Bones Quote by Ellen Bass
““Eating The Bones by Ellen Bass The women in my family strip the succulent flesh from broiled chicken, scrape the drumstick clean; bite off the cartilage chew the gristle, crush the porous swellings at the ends of each slender baton. With strong molars they split the tibia, sucking out the dense marrow. They use up love, they swallow every dark grain, so at the end there's nothing left, a scant pile of splinters on the empty white plate.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Women of the Bone by Ellen Bass, 1993
The passage depicts a ritual of consuming every part of a chicken, symbolizing how love and nourishment are taken in completely, leaving nothing behind.
In simple terms: Consuming everything shows deep love and sacrifice.
Key Takeaway
Embrace total commitment in love and care.
Themes
family
ritual
love
consumption
Mood
reflective
intimate
Type
literary
descriptive
When to use this quote
- family meals
- cultural traditions
- grieving rituals
- feasting
- shared heritage
Key Concepts
symbolism
ritualistic practice
sacrifice
Questions to Reflect On
- How does total consumption reflect emotional intimacy?
- What are the limits of giving everything?
A Different Perspective
May overlook the need for balance and self-care.
![“Visualizing how you want to be is [an] effective way to move toward your goal.” quote by Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/ellen-bass-18832_effective-way_visualizing-how-you-want-to-be-is-an-eff_515992.jpg)
