I do not want a plain box, I want a sarcophagus With…
“I do not want a plain box, I want a sarcophagus With tigery stripes, and a face on it Round as the moon, to stare up. I want to be looking at them when they come Picking among the dumb minerals, the roots. I see them already-the pale, star-distance faces. Now they are nothing, they are not even babies. I imagine them without fathers or mothers, like the first gods. They will wonder if I was important.”
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 imagines alien beings, reflecting on insignificance and longing for recognition.
In simple terms: Imagining distant beings reveals personal yearning.
Embrace humility and wonder.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- artistic creation
- personal reflection
- science fiction writing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the “sarcastic sarcophagus” symbolize?
- How does longing shape your self‑view?
The abstract imagery may obscure clear meaning for some readers.