Amaranth" There are no starfish in the sky tonight, But…
““Amaranth" There are no starfish in the sky tonight, But there is one below your belly, And there are cold evenings in your eyes. If I could get to your house I would look under the bed of your childhood, The tongueless loafer without laces or eyes, The cave of your young foot With its odor of moon, its dampness Coming from underground, your shoe Which also bled and is now an island. You have to remember these are the memories Of a survivor, you have to remember. You could be looking for clay to haul away, Fill for the deep washouts of your love. All your old loves, they bled to death, too. Your hair is like a cemetery full of hands, Fingers in the moonlight. When you come down to the heart Bring your post-hole diggers and crowbar. Do not set a corner, a fence won’t last. Do not bury our first child there, Or set a post, Although I have tasted blood on the lips of a stranger, At night and in the rain.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poem weaves surreal imagery of memory, loss, and longing, using bodily and natural metaphors to explore survival and grief.
In simple terms: It reflects on painful memories and the struggle to remember.
Key Takeaway
Embrace and process deep, fragmented memories.
Themes
memory
grief
survival
identity
poetry
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
poetic
literary
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- therapy
- creative writing
Key Concepts
metaphor
surrealism
psychological depth
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal memories does this evoke?
- How does surreal imagery affect emotional processing?
A Different Perspective
Imagery may obscure meaning for some readers.