Children Quote by Elizabeth McCracken
““When I was a teenager in Boston, a man on the subway handed me a card printed with tiny pictures of hands spelling out the alphabet in sign language. I AM DEAF, said the card. You were supposed to give the man some money in exchange. I have thought of that card ever since, during difficult times, mine or someone else's; surely when tragedy has struck you dumb, you should be given a stack of cards that explain it for you. When Pudding died, I wanted my stack. I still want it. My first child was stillborn, it would say on the front. It remains the hardest thing for me to explain, even now, or maybe I mean especially now - now that his death feels like a non sequitur. My first child was stillborn. I want people to know but I don't want to say it aloud. People don't like to hear it but I think they might not mind reading it on a card.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New Yorker, “The Card I Carry,” 2019
A personal narrative about using a symbolic card to communicate profound loss and deafness, seeking non‑verbal empathy during tragedy.
In simple terms: Uses a card to express deep grief and disability.
Key Takeaway
Find alternative ways to convey painful truths.
Themes
grief
communication
disability
Mood
somber
introspective
Type
personal
empathetic
When to use this quote
- hospital visits
- support groups
- memorial services
- online forums
Key Concepts
symbolic representation
empathy
silent storytelling
Questions to Reflect On
- What symbols could help you share hidden pain?
- How does silence affect healing?
A Different Perspective
May not replace the need for spoken dialogue.
![“When will and intention are developed through living a disciplined life, according to rules that we consider a divine template for right living, tremendous personal power results. [...] They include such gifts as prophecy, healing, bilocation, mind reading, and the ability unto levitate or walk on…” quote by Joan Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/92f/joan-borysenko-35411_disciplined-life_when-will-and-intention-are-developed-th_854204.jpg)
