Dogfish I wanted The past to go away, I wanted To leave…
““Dogfish I wanted The past to go away, I wanted To leave it, like another country; I wanted My life to close, and open Like a hinge, like a wing, like the part of the song Where it falls Down over the rocks: an explosion, a discovery; I wanted To hurry into the work of my life; I wanted to know, Whoever I was, I was Alive For a little while. …mostly, I want to be kind. And nobody, of course, is kind, Or mean, For a simple reason. And nobody gets out of it, having to Swim through the fires to stay in This world.””
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 past pain, to reinvent life, and to act with kindness despite humanity’s inherent harshness, confronting life's trials.
In simple terms: Desire to leave past, live fully, be kind despite hardships.
Embrace change, act kindly, endure challenges.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- creative work
- emotional healing
- social interaction
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does kindness mean when faced with personal suffering?
- How can one balance self‑preservation with compassion?
Kindness may be impossible to maintain perfectly; reality often forces compromise.