Bubble gum Quote by Carol Rifka Brunt
““When I go to the woods now, I always head out along the brook and go straight to the big maple. I run there, like Toby must have done on that stormy night, then I bend down and crawl on the earth. Because what if there’s a clue? What if there’s a piece of chunky strawberry bubble gum still bundled up in its waxy wrapper, or a weather-faded matchbook, or a fallen button from somebody’s big gray coat? What if buried under all those leaves is me? Not this me, but the girl in a Gunne Sax dress with the back zipper open. The girl with the best boots in the world. What if she’s under there? What if she’s crying? Because she will be, if I find her. Her tears tell the story of what she knows. That the past, present, and future are just one thing. That there’s nowhere to go from here. Home is home is home.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea”, 2023
The narrator searches for a hidden self, exploring memory, identity, and longing through vivid, tactile imagery.
In simple terms: Looking for a lost part of herself in the woods.
Key Takeaway
Seek inner truth.
Themes
identity
memory
search
nostalgia
self‑discovery
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
literary
poetic
When to use this quote
- personal introspection
- creative writing
- therapeutic journaling
- dream analysis
Key Concepts
symbolism
metaphor
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What parts of yourself are hidden?
- How does nature reflect inner feelings?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may be overly obscure for some readers.
