Adults Quote by Carol Muske-Dukes
“Anna Journey, in her new book of poems, Vulgar Remedies, creates an alchemical self whose shimmering limbic / alembic lyrics distill the mysterious terrors of childhood, the dangerous passions of adults, into her own honey-dusk 'voodun': protective, purified to gold. Poetry is always a time machine: here we are invisible travelers to a bewitched past, a beautifully occluded future. These poems are erotic, vertiginous, revelatory, their dazzling lyric force reflecting profound hermetic life.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Vulgar Remedies by Carol Muske-Dukes, 2023
The poet transforms painful childhood and adult experiences into alchemical, protective verses that act as a time‑traveling conduit to hidden pasts and futures.
In simple terms: Poetry turns trauma into golden, healing lyrics.
Key Takeaway
Use art to transmute pain into insight.
Themes
poetry
alchemy
memory
healing
time travel
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- therapy sessions
- personal reflection
- educational workshops
Key Concepts
hermetic symbolism
emotional alchemy
psychic transformation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does alchemical language change your perception of trauma?
- Can poetic transformation replace practical healing?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may obscure rather than clarify the actual psychological process.
![“He [an earnest young reporter] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be art, the object of children's books is to whip the little rascals into shape.” quote by Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2cf/katherine-paterson-2365_adults_he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-s_6101.jpg)
