Dumb Quote by Dylan Thomas
““The force that through the green fuse drives the flower" The force that through the green fuse drives the flower Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees Is my destroyer. And I am dumb to tell the crooked rose My youth is bent by the same wintry fever. The force that drives the water through the rocks Drives my red blood; that dries the mouthing streams Turns mine to wax. And I am dumb to mouth unto my veins How at the mountain spring the same mouth sucks. The hand that whirls the water in the pool Stirs the quicksand; that ropes the blowing wind Hauls my shroud sail. And I am dumb to tell the hanging man How of my clay is made the hangman’s lime. The lips of time leech to the fountain head; Love drips and gathers, but the fallen blood Shall calm her sores. And I am dumb to tell a weather’s wind How time has ticked a heaven round the stars. And I am dumb to tell the lover’s tomb How at my sheet goes the same crooked worm.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The force that through the green fuse drives the flower” from “The Force That Drives the Green Fuse” by Dylan Thomas, 1934
The poem reflects on how natural forces that nurture life also bring decay, linking youthful vigor, aging, and mortality in a cyclical, inevitable pattern.
In simple terms: Nature’s forces both create and destroy, tying life, aging, and death together.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the duality of growth and decay in your own life.
Themes
mortality
nature
duality
time
growth
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- creative writing
- philosophical contemplation
Key Concepts
entropy
impermanence
interconnectedness
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you see the same forces shaping both your successes and challenges?
- What does acknowledging this duality change your view of aging?
A Different Perspective
The metaphorical language may obscure practical insight for some readers.
