Life Quote by John Ashbery
““You meant more than life to me. I lived through you not knowing, not knowing I was living. I learned that you called for me. I came to where you were living, up a stair. There was no one there. No one to appreciate me. The legality of it upset a chair. Many times to celebrate we were called together and where we had been there was nothing there, nothing that is anywhere. We passed obliquely, leaving no stare. When the sun was done muttering, in an optimistic way, it was time to leave that there. Blithely passing in and out of where, blushing shyly at the tag on the overcoat near the window where the outside crept away, I put aside the there and now. Now it was time to stumble anew, blacking out when time came in the window. There was not much of it left. I laughed and put my hands shyly across your eyes. Can you see now? Yes I can see I am only in the where where the blossoming stream takes off, under your window. Go presently you said. Go from my window. I am in love with your window I cannot undermine it, I said.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Unfinished Sentence”, 1975
The poem explores longing, emptiness, and the fleeting nature of connection, using surreal imagery to convey emotional disorientation.
In simple terms: It reflects on searching for meaning in empty moments.
Key Takeaway
Embrace uncertainty and seek authentic moments.
Themes
loneliness
search for meaning
transience
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- quiet contemplation
- artistic creation
- personal reflection
- nighttime thoughts
Key Concepts
existentialism
surrealism
poetic ambiguity
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “the window” symbolize for you?
- How do you find meaning in ambiguous experiences?
A Different Perspective
The poem’s abstract style may alienate readers seeking clear narrative.
