--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was slow at first, dead things slowly…" description: "\"“It was slow at first, dead things slowly mouldering away. The flies in the corners, the dried flowers in their clay pots. The stuffed bird Alfie bough..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/kelsey-ipsen-69897_dreams_it-was-slow-at-first-dead-things-slowly_1447644.jpg" --- # It was slow at first, dead things slowly mouldering away… ![“It was slow at first, dead things slowly mouldering away. The flies in the corners, the dried flowers in their clay pots. The stuffed bird Alfie bought, only because he was both fascinated and disgusted by it in equal measures, was molting on it's perch. It's feathers falling like leaves then…” quote by Kelsey Ipsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/kelsey-ipsen-69897_dreams_it-was-slow-at-first-dead-things-slowly_1447644.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/kelsey-ipsen-69897_dreams_it-was-slow-at-first-dead-things-slowly_1447644.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/kelsey-ipsen-69897_dreams_it-was-slow-at-first-dead-things-slowly_1447644.jpg) > ““It was slow at first, dead things slowly mouldering away. The flies in the corners, the dried flowers in their clay pots. The stuffed bird Alfie bought, only because he was both fascinated and disgusted by it in equal measures, was molting on it's perch. It's feathers falling like leaves then laying, parched and cracking dry. The sea shells I kept on my windowsill turned slowly back into sand and the wind filtering through the curtains blew the pieces into the creases of my bedsheets. When I pulled them over my head at night they felt like waves crashing against my ears. It made my thoughts sodden and heavy like impalpable clay, they dredged through my mind like half-forgotten things. Wave: a face, a feeling, the ghost of a name balancing on my teeth and ready to- crash: and now gone, like a dream I once tried to remember though it was already evaporating quick from my morning-shaking fingers. I started dreaming of crumbling sandcastles and the ocean lapping at my feet. I woke in waves and lay, rocking, until I got up to place my feet in the quiet carpet and watch through my down-turned, dream-filled lashes, as it exhaled dust at every step.”” [Kelsey Ipsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-ipsen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage portrays decay and memory, using natural imagery to convey emotional erosion and fleeting thoughts. **In simple terms:** Decay mirrors fading memories. Key Takeaway Acknowledge impermanence. Themes memory decay impermanence Mood melancholic reflective Type poetic literary When to use this quote - writing - therapy - artistic expression Key Concepts transience nostalgia sensory detail Questions to Reflect On - What does the sea symbolize for you? - How do you process lingering thoughts? A Different Perspective Personal reflection may overlook broader context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dreaming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreaming/) [Dreaming Crumbling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreaming-crumbling-5197586/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Every step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-step/) [Feathers Falling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feathers-falling-2018345/) [Sea shell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea-shell/) [Started Dreaming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-dreaming-906399/) [Thoughts Sodden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-sodden-5197587/) ## Related quotes > [“After a long time, one small hand moved, slowly, tentatively, tracing the feathers falling around her, stroking the black slashes along one huge wing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/after-a-long-time-one-small-hand-moved-slowly-tentatively-tracing-the/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [I started dreaming about being an actor in Gwalior, and it feels amazing to shoot in my hometown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kartik-aaryan/i-started-dreaming-about-being-an-actor-in-gwalior-and-it-feels/) [Kartik Aaryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kartik-aaryan/) > [“He'd woken me from a dreamless sleep, and I couldn't roll over and close my eyes, because in my wakefulness, I'd started dreaming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-reiss/he-d-woken-me-from-a-dreamless-sleep-and-i-couldn-t-roll-over-and/) [C.D. Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-reiss/) > [The four of us started dreaming of sharing music to the world and creating something new for people to enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie/the-four-of-us-started-dreaming-of-sharing-music-to-the-world-and/) [Jennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie/) > [“It was impossible to tell when they actually fell asleep because they started dreaming when they were still awake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cole/it-was-impossible-to-tell-when-they-actually-fell-asleep-because-they/) [Chris Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cole/) > [“Since when one has started dreaming, there were so many cries for help and so many bottles thrown into the sea, that it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-gary/since-when-one-has-started-dreaming-there-were-so-many-cries-for-help/) [Romain Gary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-gary/) > [I really started dreaming... and broke out of my shyness when I got to Howard University. My first acting class was an Intro to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-gross/i-really-started-dreaming-and-broke-out-of-my-shyness-when-i-got-to/) [Lance Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-gross/) > [I have left the past behind, I have woken up, I started dreaming again ! Hope youll have the sweetest dream tonight, Good night\_\_\_\_\_\_](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sk/i-have-left-the-past-behind-i-have-woken-up-i-started-dreaming-again/) [SK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sk/) > [I started dreaming of becoming a singer after seeing Michael Jackson in the 'Billie Jean' video. The mix of fantastic choreography and amazing music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boa/i-started-dreaming-of-becoming-a-singer-after-seeing-michael-jackson/) [BoA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boa/) > [It took me years to even think being on 'SNL' was even the slightest possibility... or a 'goal,' but then I started at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-fineman/it-took-me-years-to-even-think-being-on-snl-was-even-the-slightest/) [Chloe Fineman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-fineman/) > [There must be something beyond man in this world. Even on attaining to his highest possibilities, he is like a bird beating against his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/there-must-be-something-beyond-man-in-this-world-even-on-attaining-to/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [“Christ, it's embarrassing--I start thinking about this goddam poem I sent her when we first started goin' around together. 'Rose my color is. and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/christ-it-s-embarrassing-i-start-thinking-about-this-goddam-poem-i/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [Juliet: I will be thy chased rose and take thy name. My heart will continue drumming its love for you the same; And though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakespeare/juliet-i-will-be-thy-chased-rose-and-take-thy-name-my-heart-will/) [Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakespeare/) > [“I am the guardian of the sleeping fawn; the snow is dear to me; and the moon rising; and the silver sea. With my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/i-am-the-guardian-of-the-sleeping-fawn-the-snow-is-dear-to-me-and-the/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [The flood subsides, and the body, like a worn sea-shell emerges strange and lovely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-flood-subsides-and-the-body-like-a-worn-sea-shell-emerges-strange/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Kelsey Ipsen > [“When I was talking to Alfie I always knew exactly what he meant, but when I thought about his words later I could only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-ipsen/when-i-was-talking-to-alfie-i-always-knew-exactly-what-he-meant-but/) [Kelsey Ipsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-ipsen/) > [“There was a girl who used to hide behind the moon with her legs bent against it like tiny fishhooks, as if she were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-ipsen/there-was-a-girl-who-used-to-hide-behind-the-moon-with-her-legs-bent/) [Kelsey Ipsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-ipsen/) > [“It takes a long time to open someone like a book, you need to press your spines together. Then the patterns of your spines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-ipsen/it-takes-a-long-time-to-open-someone-like-a-book-you-need-to-press/) [Kelsey Ipsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-ipsen/) [Explore all 4 Kelsey Ipsen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-ipsen/) ## More Dreaming quotes > [When I am creating art, I have absolutely no social responsibility. It's like dreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cronenberg/when-i-am-creating-art-i-have-absolutely-no-social-responsibility-it/) [David Cronenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cronenberg/) > [He's the first thing I think of when I wake up. the only thing I think of when Im awake. and the last thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/treasure-2/he-s-the-first-thing-i-think-of-when-i-wake-up-the-only-thing-i-think/) [Treasure^^](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/treasure-2/) > [U R D 1st Thing I Think About Wen I Wake Up Just Thinking Of U Put D Biggest Smiles On My Face Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhatsprincess/u-r-d-1st-thing-i-think-about-wen-i-wake-up-just-thinking-of-u-put-d/) [ZhatsPrincess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhatsprincess/) > [The important part of dreaming is what you do when you wake up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dal-lamagna/the-important-part-of-dreaming-is-what-you-do-when-you-wake-up/) [Dal LaMagna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dal-lamagna/) > [Courageous dreaming allows you to create from the source, the quantum soup of the universe where everything exists in a latent or potential state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-villoldo/courageous-dreaming-allows-you-to-create-from-the-source-the-quantum/) [Alberto Villoldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-villoldo/) > [I went to sleep dreaming of Malawi, and all the things made possible when your dreams are powered by your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kamkwamba/i-went-to-sleep-dreaming-of-malawi-and-all-the-things-made-possible/) [William Kamkwamba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kamkwamba/) > [“Her silent singing wrapped around the story she was telling herself, which she extended further every night on the deck. (Averill often told herself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/her-silent-singing-wrapped-around-the-story-she-was-telling-herself/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [“Dreams are part of our human survival kit, part of what has kept us going, and evolving on this planet. Across history most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/dreams-are-part-of-our-human-survival-kit-part-of-what-has-kept-us/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [Sometimes I close my eyes; sometimes I let my hunger rise. I think of all you are - you are the love of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemis-khan/sometimes-i-close-my-eyes-sometimes-i-let-my-hunger-rise-i-think-of/) [Kemis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemis-khan/) > [Dreaming by the river, I dedicated my imagination to water, to clear, green water, the water that makes the meadows green.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-bachelard/dreaming-by-the-river-i-dedicated-my-imagination-to-water-to-clear/) [Gaston Bachelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-bachelard/) > [“I had a dream about you last night... you kept meowing at people and licking yourself it was not unlike you normally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-mckay/i-had-a-dream-about-you-last-night-you-kept-meowing-at-people-and/) [Nicole McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-mckay/) > [If I go to sleep with you on my mind, will I wake up in your arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taty-the-great/if-i-go-to-sleep-with-you-on-my-mind-will-i-wake-up-in-your-arms/) [Taty The Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taty-the-great/) > [Be bold in your caring, and be bold in your dreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/be-bold-in-your-caring-and-be-bold-in-your-dreaming/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Of course when I started, it's not because I was such a brilliant actress. I didn't know I was good. I thought I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-bouquet/of-course-when-i-started-it-s-not-because-i-was-such-a-brilliant/) [Carole Bouquet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-bouquet/) > [While sleep is clearly vital to emotional well-being, what is it, exactly, about sleep that is so necessary? As it turns out, mood disorders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/while-sleep-is-clearly-vital-to-emotional-well-being-what-is-it/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) [Browse all 1,667 Dreaming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreaming/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It was slow at first, dead things slowly mouldering away. The flies in the corners, the dried flowers in their clay pots. 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