Forgetting Quote by Joseph Brodsky
““ A Song I wish you were here, dear, I wish you were here. I wish you sat on the sofa and I sat near. The handkerchief could be yours, the tear could be mine, chin-bound. Though it could be, of course, the other way around. I wish you were here, dear, I wish you were here. I wish we were in my car and you'd shift the gear. We'd find ourselves elsewhere, on an unknown shore. Or else we'd repair to where we've been before. I wish you were here, dear, I wish you were here. I wish I knew no astronomy when stars appear, when the moon skims the water that sighs and shifts in its slumber. I wish it were still a quarter to dial your number. I wish you were here, dear, in this hemisphere, as I sit on the porch sipping a beer. It's evening, the sun is setting; boys shout and gulls are crying. What's the point of forgetting if it's followed by dying?””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Unnamed, Joseph Brodsky, 1990s
A longing for a loved one's presence intertwines with reflections on time, nature, and mortality, revealing yearning and existential doubt.
In simple terms: Missing someone triggers deep reflections on life and death.
Key Takeaway
Embrace connection while confronting impermanence.
Themes
loneliness
yearning
existentialism
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- letter writing
- personal journaling
- shared moments
Key Concepts
memory
time
nature
mortality
Questions to Reflect On
- What does presence mean to you?
- How do you reconcile longing with acceptance?
A Different Perspective
The poetic yearning may idealize absence, overlooking present realities.
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