Two homeless men were asleep on picnic tables. I had…
““Two homeless men were asleep on picnic tables. I had become very good at not looking at unpleasant things. I could skip my eyes over any pool of vomit on the train platform, any broken junkie lurching toward the concrete, any woman who screamed at her crying baby, even the couples fighting at their tables at the restaurant, women crying into fettuccine, twirling their wedding bands - what being a fifty-one percenter had taught me was not to let any shock shake my composure. One of the homeless men, in the layers of colorless clothes, was faced away from me on his side. His pants were half down, a piece of shit-covered toilet paper sticking out of his ass crack like a surrender flag. One of his tennis shoes had fallen off and lay to the side of the table. I looked at him until I couldn’t anymore. The sun seemed pensive about setting, and instead of the usual transcendental buzz I got from a change of light, I noticed that the rats were shifting within the rocks. I’m beginning to worry, I said to the river. I checked my phone and walked back home.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The narrator describes how constant exposure to distressing scenes can numb empathy, yet a single vivid image forces a moment of confronting discomfort and self‑reflection.
In simple terms: Seeing harsh reality can numb us, but one stark moment can break that numbness.
Key Takeaway
Allow yourself to notice and feel discomfort instead of ignoring it.
Themes
empathy
desensitization
self‑awareness
urban life
mental health
Mood
reflective
somber
introspective
Type
narrative
observational
literary
When to use this quote
- public transportation
- restaurant
- home
- personal reflection
- urban observation
Key Concepts
psychology
social observation
mindfulness
Questions to Reflect On
- What moments have you ignored that now demand your attention?
- How can you balance self‑preservation with genuine empathy?
A Different Perspective
The narrator’s coping may also be a form of avoidance rather than true processing.