And now my old dog is dead, and another I had after him…
“And now my old dog is dead, and another I had after him, and my parents are dead, and that first world, that old house, is sold and lost, and the books I gathered there lost, or sold- but more books bought, and in another place, board by board and stone by stone, like a house, a true life built, and all because I was steadfast about one or two things: loving foxes, and poems, the blank piece of paper, and my own energy- and mostly the shimmering shoulders of the world that shrug carelessly over the fate of any individual that they may, the better, keep the Niles and Amazons flowing.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Despite loss and change, steadfast devotion to simple passions like foxes, poems, and writing builds a resilient, meaningful life.
In simple terms: Cling to simple passions amid loss.
Key Takeaway
Hold fast to what you love.
Themes
loss
resilience
passion
Mood
contemplative
hopeful
Type
poetic
reflective
When to use this quote
- grieving
- writing
- gardening
- animal care
Key Concepts
steadfastness
nature
creativity
Questions to Reflect On
- What simple joys sustain you?
- How do you turn loss into purpose?
A Different Perspective
May romanticize hardship without addressing practical needs.