Pool Quote by Kirsty Gunn
““That minute, that tiny second when you hit the water flat on, you lose your breath. All the air flattens out of you - like going flat out on concrete. Then the next second you're sliding through, sliding and sinking slowly to the bottom of the pool. You touch the bottom, you bounce once there gently like an astronaut. And you feel the bottom of the pool against the soles of your feet and that's queer-but not queer, because you're the same person, aren't you? Just in another place that's all, you've still got the same body there. You look around, in that blue time, in that deep place. You look around with the same eyes, at the milky chlorine blue, and you have so much time there. Deep in the water with your same body, but everything's different, everything's better.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Guardian, “Kirsty Gunn on Writing and Memory”, 2015
The passage describes how immersion in water changes perception, making the familiar body feel both same and alien, revealing how altered environments shift consciousness while core identity remains.
In simple terms: Being in water changes how you feel, but you stay the same person.
Key Takeaway
Embrace new settings to gain fresh perspectives.
Themes
identity
perception
environment
consciousness
Mood
reflective
tranquil
introspective
Type
philosophical
poetic
When to use this quote
- swimming
- meditation
- creative writing
- therapy
- mindfulness
Key Concepts
embodiment
altered perception
mind‑body unity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does a change of setting reveal hidden aspects of yourself?
- Can physical immersion deepen mental insight?
A Different Perspective
The experience may be fleeting and not universally relatable.
