--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And when he did that, my hands curled…" description: "\"And when he did that, my hands curled into fists because I thought about touching his face like maybe I could catch joy in my hands and hold it.\" — Kar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d66/karen-marie-moning-189_faces_and-when-he-did-that-my-hands-curled-int_37400.png" --- # And when he did that, my hands curled into fists because I… ![“And when he did that, my hands curled into fists because I thought about touching his face like maybe I could catch joy in my hands and hold it.” quote by Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d66/karen-marie-moning-189_faces_and-when-he-did-that-my-hands-curled-int_37400.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d66/karen-marie-moning-189_faces_and-when-he-did-that-my-hands-curled-int_37400.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d66/karen-marie-moning-189_faces_and-when-he-did-that-my-hands-curled-int_37400.png) > “And when he did that, my hands curled into fists because I thought about touching his face like maybe I could catch joy in my hands and hold it.” [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels an intense yearning to physically grasp an intangible emotion, turning desire into a visceral, almost violent, gesture. **In simple terms:** Desire to capture joy physically. Key Takeaway Joy is elusive, yet we try to seize it. Themes longing embodiment emotion intimacy frustration Mood yearning intense hopeful Type reflective emotive metaphorical When to use this quote - contemplating a loved one - experiencing a fleeting moment - feeling overwhelmed by emotion - seeking connection - grappling with intangible feelings Key Concepts touch joy hand fist face Practical Applications - poetry - creative writing - therapeutic journaling Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to 'hold' an emotion? - How does physical metaphor shape our understanding of joy? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Touching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touching/) ## Related quotes > [“I know that when he has sex he laughs like the world is a perfect place. 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Her knowing, almost teasing look, not quite a smile, when she knew she had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-vreeland/the-winsome-lilt-of-digna-humming-in-the-garden-her-knowing-almost/) [Susan Vreeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-vreeland/) > [“There was I, fool that I am, thinking that you were being loving to me,” he says shortly. “I thought you were touching me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/there-was-i-fool-that-i-am-thinking-that-you-were-being-loving-to-me/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“Hey.” Garrett’s head was being cradled. In someone’s lap, probably, from the feel of it. A hand was touching his face. He opened his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-ni-coileain/hey-garrett-s-head-was-being-cradled-in-someone-s-lap-probably-from/) [Rory Ni Coileain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-ni-coileain/) > [In my dreams you're touching my face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/in-my-dreams-you-re-touching-my-face/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [“four behaviors that trigger concerns about trustworthiness: leaning away; crossing arms; touching, rubbing, or grasping hands together; and touching the face, stomach, or other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-neffinger/four-behaviors-that-trigger-concerns-about-trustworthiness-leaning/) John Neffinger > [In my dreams your touching my face, and asking me if I want to try again with you...and I almost do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/in-my-dreams-your-touching-my-face-and-asking-me-if-i-want-to-try/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [I don't like people touching my face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-amell/i-don-t-like-people-touching-my-face/) [Robbie Amell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-amell/) > [You want a reason to live? 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"Try holding onto that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/our-sex-is-fierce-we-will-both-be-bruised-i-want-it-to-always-be-like/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Keep hoping to see the light in her eyes. Even knowing it'll mean she's saying good-bye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/keep-hoping-to-see-the-light-in-her-eyes-even-knowing-it-ll-mean-she/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Strength wasn‘t about being able to do everything alone. Strength was knowing when to ask for help and not being too proud to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/strength-wasn-t-about-being-able-to-do-everything-alone-strength-was/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“He swapped the fistful of my shirt for one in my hair, and ground his mouth against mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/he-swapped-the-fistful-of-my-shirt-for-one-in-my-hair-and-ground-his/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [He’s so beautiful,” she said wistfully. “He’s like an angel.” “Yep,” I agreed flatly. “The one that fell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/he-s-so-beautiful-she-said-wistfully-he-s-like-an-angel-yep-i-agreed/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Flattered as I am that you count me among the beautiful people, Barrons, allow me to point out that I’m still alive. I encountered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/flattered-as-i-am-that-you-count-me-among-the-beautiful-people/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“It's funny the things people say when someone dies. He's in a better place. How do you know that? Life goes on. That's supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/it-s-funny-the-things-people-say-when-someone-dies-he-s-in-a-better/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) [Explore all 940 Karen Marie Moning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) ## More Faces quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. 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Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) [Browse all 13,128 Faces quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And when he did that, my hands curled into fists because I thought about touching his face like maybe I could catch joy in my hands and hold it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Karen Marie Moning" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/and-when-he-did-that-my-hands-curled-into-fists-because-i-thought/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Faces" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/and-when-he-did-that-my-hands-curled-into-fists-because-i-thought/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d66/karen-marie-moning-189_faces_and-when-he-did-that-my-hands-curled-int_37400.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d66/karen-marie-moning-189_faces_and-when-he-did-that-my-hands-curled-int_37400.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d66/karen-marie-moning-189_faces_and-when-he-did-that-my-hands-curled-int_37400.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And when he did that, my hands curled into fists because I thought about touching his face like maybe I…” — Karen Marie Moning", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Karen Marie Moning", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "And when he did that, my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/and-when-he-did-that-my-hands-curled-into-fists-because-i-thought/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/and-when-he-did-that-my-hands-curled-into-fists-because-i-thought/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```