Death Quote by John Hawkes
““You don't even have a cross," he said. His beloved was silent. "You don't even have any candles, no face of Christ, no tears. What can I say?" Then she began to murmur and he was astonished. "I'm sorry. I will believe in the eternity of souls, I am bereaved. I will see those places where death talks solemnly to the years, where the breakers roll over their sins and their regrets, where the valley of Heaven lies before the crag of immortality, and I will believe my mother has gained peace. I have lost her. Has anyone felt such terrible grief, known that for all earthly time the eyes shall never see, the heart never beat except with her shadow? What an unhappy loss, the candles are gutted, and the face wanes for this immortality. I have lost my mother." This was her only glimpse of Heaven, and she wept so much that he was afraid. Finally she held his hand. The two brothers fired the cannon at the burial.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Blood Oranges, 1971
A grieving man confronts mortality, loss, and the search for meaning after his mother’s death.
In simple terms: Grief leads to existential reflection.
Key Takeaway
Seek meaning through mourning.
Themes
grief
mortality
search for meaning
Mood
somber
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- funeral rites
- family conversations
- writing about loss
- therapy sessions
- memorial gatherings
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
spirituality
Questions to Reflect On
- What does mourning reveal about your values?
- How can you honor lost loved ones?
A Different Perspective
The narrative is highly abstract and may not resonate with all readers.
