Pain Wanted Quote by Lorrie Moore
““I would look out upon the wildflowers, the mulch of swamps and leaves, the spring mosses greening on the rocks, or the boulderous mountains of street-black snow, whatever season it happened to be- my mittens clotted with ice, or my hands grimy with marsh mud- and from the back of my larynx I’d send part of my voice out toward the horizon and part of it straight up toward the sky. There must have been some pain in me. I wanted to howl and fly and break apart.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “Wildflowers” (published in 2020)??null
The speaker feels a deep, painful yearning to express themselves, blending nature imagery with a desire to break free.
In simple terms: A longing to howl, fly, and break apart amid nature’s beauty and pain.
Key Takeaway
Embrace and release inner pain through creative expression.
Themes
nature
pain
expression
freedom
Mood
melancholic
hopeful
Type
poetic
reflective
When to use this quote
- poetry writing
- therapy
- artistic performance
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
voice
yearning
transcendence
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “howl” symbolize for you?
- How can nature inspire your expression?
A Different Perspective
The intense emotion may overwhelm rather than heal.
