Artistry Quote by Christian Wiman
““And I Said To My Soul, Be Loud Madden me back to an afternoon I carry in me not like a wound but like a will against a wound Give me again enough man to be the child choosing my own annihilations To make of this severed limb a wand to conjure a weapon to shatter dark matter of the dirt daubers' nests galaxies of glass Whacking glints bash-dancing on the cellar's fire I am the sound the sun would make if the sun could make a sound and the gasp of rot stabbed from the compost's lumpen living death is me O my life my war in a jar I shake you and shake you and may the best ant win For I am come a whirlwind of wasted things and I will ride this tantrum back to God until my fixed self, my fluorescent self my grief–nibbling, unbewildered, wall–to–wall self withers in me like a salted slug””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Untitled, 2015, from collection "The End of the World"
The speaker confronts inner turmoil, transforming pain into creative power and defiant self‑assertion.
In simple terms: Turning suffering into strength and purpose.
Key Takeaway
Embrace chaos, channel it into art.
Themes
identity
resilience
creativity
conflict
spirituality
Mood
intense
defiant
hopeful
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- artistic creation
- spiritual seeking
- mental health coping
Key Concepts
existentialism
self‑transformation
mythic imagery
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you harness inner conflict for growth?
- What does “the sound the sun would make” symbolize for you?
A Different Perspective
May become of the self‑destructive impulses overwhelm the creative drive.
