Dinner table Quote by Anne Sexton
““and God was there like an island I had not rowed to, still ignorant of Him, my arms, and my legs worked, and I grew, I grew, I wore rubies and bought tomatoes and now, in my middle age, about nineteen in the head I'd say, I am rowing, I am rowing though the oarlocks stick and are rusty and the sea blinks and rolls like a worried eyebal, but I am rowing, I am rowing, though the wind pushes me back and I know that that island will not be perfect, it will have the flaws of life, the absurdities of the dinner table, but there will be a door and I will open it and I will get rid of the rat insdie me, the gnawing pestilential rat. God will take it with his two hands and embrace it””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Untitled, 1970s (personal writing)
The speaker describes a spiritual journey, rowing toward an imperfect island representing life, confronting inner flaws, and seeking divine cleansing.
In simple terms: A spiritual quest confronting imperfections, seeking divine help.
Key Takeaway
Embrace growth despite life's imperfections.
Themes
spirituality
self‑acceptance
struggle
Mood
introspective
hopeful
Type
poetic
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- midlife reflection
- mental health
- creative writing
Key Concepts
inner conflict
redemption
faith
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal 'island' are you rowing toward?
- How do you confront your inner 'rat'?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may be too abstract for practical application.
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