Gaze Quote by Jesmyn Ward
““I'm tired of this shit,' I say. I don't know why I say it. Maybe because I'm tried of driving, tired of the road stretching before me endlessly, Michael always at the opposite end of it, no matter how far I go, how far I drive. Maybe because part of me wanted her to leap for me, to smear orange vomit over the front of my shirt as her little tan body sought mine, always sought mine, our hearts separated by the thin cages of our ribs, exhaling and inhaling, our blood in sync. Maybe because I want her to burrow in to me for succor instead of her brother. Maybe because Jojo doesn't even look at me, all his attention on the body in his arms, the little person he's trying to soothe, and my attention is everywhere. Even now, my devotion: inconstant.””
About This Quote
The speaker feels restless and conflicted, yearning for connection while being overwhelmed by endless travel and fragmented attention.
In simple terms: Restlessness and longing for intimacy amid endless road.
Key Takeaway
Seek moments of genuine connection and pause the endless motion.
Themes
loneliness
longing
travel
identity
relationships
Mood
conflicted
yearning
exhausted
Type
personal
reflective
When to use this quote
- long drives
- relationship tension
- caregiver fatigue
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
existential fatigue
desire for intimacy
fragmented attention
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the road symbolize for you?
- How can you create genuine intimacy despite constant movement?
A Different Perspective
The yearning may be idealized, ignoring practical constraints of relationships.
