Heart and mind Quote by Edith Sitwell
““Said the lion to the lioness - "when you are amber dust - No more a raging fire like the heat of the sun (no liking but all lust) - Remember still the flowering of the amber blood and bone, the rippling of bright muscles like a sea, Remember the rose-prickles of bright paws Though we shall mate no more Till the fire of that sun and the moon - Cold bone are one" Said the skeleton lying upon the sands of time - "The great gold planet that is the mourning heat of the sun Is greater than all gold, more powerful Than the tawny body of a lion that fire consumes Like all that grows or leaps...so is the heart. More powerful than all dust. Once I was hercules Or Samson, strong as the pillars of the seas: But the flames of the heart Consumed me, and the mind Is but a foolish wind.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Skeleton on the Sands of Time", 1934
The poem uses vivid animal imagery to explore fleeting passion, mortality, and the yearning for enduring love amidst inevitable decay.
In simple terms: Passion fades, but love seeks permanence.
Key Takeaway
Cherish lasting connections despite impermanence.
Themes
love
mortality
passion
impermanence
mythology
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- romantic relationship
- artistic creation
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
symbolism
alchemy
human desire
Questions to Reflect On
- What does "amber blood" symbolize?
- How does the poem reconcile fire and cold?
A Different Perspective
The abstract language may obscure practical application for some readers.
