I have longed to move away From the hissing of the spent…
““I have longed to move away From the hissing of the spent lie And the old terrors' continual cry Growing more terrible as the day Goes over the hill into the deep sea; I have longed to move away From the repetition of salutes, For there are ghosts in the air And ghostly echoes on paper, And the thunder of calls and notes. I have longed to move away but am afraid; Some life, yet unspent, might explode Out of the old lie burning on the ground, And, crackling into the air, leave me half-blind. Neither by night's ancient fear, The parting of hat from hair, Pursed lips at the receiver, Shall I fall to death's feather. By these I would not care to die, Half convention and half lie.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker longs to escape oppressive, repetitive, and haunting thoughts, fearing both stagnation and the unknown consequences of change.
In simple terms: Desire to flee mental burdens while fearing change.
Key Takeaway
Seek balance between confronting and releasing inner turmoil.
Themes
fear
escape
inner conflict
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- daily stress
- creative work
- relationship strain
- personal growth
Key Concepts
existential dread
creative block
psychological tension
Questions to Reflect On
- What holds you back from moving on?
- How can you confront the “ghosts” constructively?
A Different Perspective
Escaping may not resolve underlying issues.