Creepy Quote by Clark Ashton Smith
““In one picture, the pool was half hidden by a fringe of mace- weeds, and the dead willow was leaning across it at a prone, despondent angle, as if mysteriously arrested in its fall towards the stagnant waters. Beyond, the alders seemed to strain away from the pool, exposing their knotted roots as if in eternal effort. In the other drawing, the pool formed the main portion of the foreground, with the skeleton tree looming drearily at one side. At the water's farther end, the cat-tails seemed to wave and whisper among themselves in a dying wind; and the steeply barring slope of pine at the meadow's terminus was indicated as a wall of gloomy green that closed in the picture, leaving only a pale of autumnal sky at the top. ("Genius Loci")””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “Genius Loci” by Clark Ashton Smith, 1935
The description contrasts two visions of a stagnant pool, emphasizing decay, melancholy, and the oppressive weight of nature, suggesting an eerie, timeless atmosphere.
In simple terms: Two bleak scenes of a stagnant pool and dying nature.
Key Takeaway
Notice how environment reflects inner despondency.
Themes
nature
decay
melancholy
atmosphere
time
perception
Mood
somber
reflective
poetic
Type
descriptive
literary
visual
When to use this quote
- art analysis
- creative writing
- visual arts
- landscape photography
- meditation on mood
Key Concepts
symbolism
environmental storytelling
psychology of place
Questions to Reflect On
- How does setting influence emotional tone?
- What does the pool symbolize?
A Different Perspective
The imagery may romanticize decay, overlooking resilience in nature.
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