Artist Quote by Charlotte Eriksson
““I am not a finished poem, and I am not the song you’ve turned me into. I am a detached human being, making my way in a world that is constantly trying to push me aside, and you who send me letters and emails and beautiful gifts wouldn’t even recognise me if you saw me walking down the street where I live tomorrow for I am not a poem. I am tired and worn out and the eyes you would see would not be painted or inspired but empty and weary from drinking too much at all times and I am not the life of your party who sings and has glorious words to speak for I don’t speak much at all and my voice is raspy and unsteady from unhealthy living and not much sleep and I only use it when I sing and I always sing too much or not at all and never when people are around because they expect poems and symphonies and I am not a poem but an elegy at my best but unedited and uncut and not a lot of people want to work with me because there’s only so much you can do with an audio take, with the plug-ins and EQs and I was born distorted, disordered, and I’m pretty fine with that, but others are not.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Personal statement, 2023
The speaker feels reduced to an artistic ideal, while their true self is exhausted, fragmented, and unpolished, yearning for acceptance beyond superficial expectations.
In simple terms: I am seen as a poem but I am tired and imperfect.
Key Takeaway
Accept yourself beyond others' artistic projections.
Themes
identity
authenticity
exhaustion
artistic expectation
self‑acceptance
Mood
tired
reflective
hopeful
Type
personal
confessional
reflective
When to use this quote
- personal confession
- artist interview
- mental health discussion
Key Concepts
self‑image
performance pressure
mental health
creative authenticity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you honor your true self when others expect a performance?
- What boundaries can protect your wellbeing in artistic collaborations?
A Different Perspective
Creative work often overlooks the artist’s wellbeing.
