Poem Quote by Hermann Hesse
““The Wolf trots to and fro, The world lies deep in snow, The raven from the birch tree flies, But nowhere a hare, nowhere a roe, The roe -she is so dear, so sweet - If such a thing I might surprise In my embrace, my teeth would meet, What else is there beneath the skies? The lovely creature I would so treasure, And feast myself deep on her tender thigh, I would drink of her red blood full measure, Then howl till the night went by. Even a hare I would not despise; Sweet enough its warm flesh in the night. Is everything to be denied That could make life a little bright? The hair on my brush is getting grey. The sight is failing from my eyes. Years ago my dear mate died. And now I trot and dream of a roe. I trot and dream of a hare. I hear the wind of midnight howl. I cool with the snow my burning jowl, And on to the devil my wretched soul I bear.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Unnamed lyrical piece, likely early 20th century German literature
A predator laments loss and yearning, reflecting on desire, mortality, and the futility of violent cravings in a bleak world
In simple terms: The speaker longs for prey yet confronts aging and loss
Key Takeaway
Recognize that desire can mask deeper emptiness
Themes
longing
mortality
predation
yearning
loss
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
wistful
Type
poetic
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- artistic analysis
- literary criticism
- psychological introspection
Key Concepts
Existentialism
animal symbolism
grief
Questions to Reflect On
- How does yearning for what we cannot have shape our identity?
- Can desire be a coping mechanism for loss?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor of predation may oversimplify human relationships
