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First, she wanted to taste the sweat that shone on his…

“First, she wanted to taste the sweat that shone on his throat and fragile clavicle; then he chose to undo the tails of her shirt, that she had tied up beneath her breasts; then, but then impatient they forgot about taking turns and quarreled silently, eagerly over each other, like pirates dividing…” quote by John Crowley
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“First, she wanted to taste the sweat that shone on his throat and fragile clavicle; then he chose to undo the tails of her shirt, that she had tied up beneath her breasts; then, but then impatient they forgot about taking turns and quarreled silently, eagerly over each other, like pirates dividing treasure long sought, long imagined, long withheld.”

John Crowley

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A vivid, sensual scene of escalating intimacy and conflict, likened to pirates fighting over treasure.

In simple terms: Intimacy becomes a fierce, competitive struggle.

Key Takeaway

Recognize when desire turns into rivalry.

Themes

desire conflict intimacy competition

Mood

intense passionate

Type

literary descriptive

When to use this quote

  • romantic relationship
  • artistic description
  • creative writing
  • literary analysis

Key Concepts

sensuality power dynamics symbolism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does competition affect intimacy?
  • When does desire become conflict?
A Different Perspective

The metaphor may romanticize unhealthy competition.

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