Ashes Quote by Matthew J. Sullivan
““If you want to pay respects, by the way, he's at the zoo." "At the zoo? As in the zoo?" "Joey liked to walk the zoo on free days. I didn't know where else to put him. I thought about leaving him on a shelf upstairs, with Flannery or Fante or Rimbaud. But I figured there were rules against leaving bodies in here." "Probably." "So I put his ashes in a duffel bag and snipped a tiny hole in the bottom and walked the length of the zoo. But I didn't make the hole big enough so there were these tiny pieces left over in the bag. I shook them into the grass. But then all the geese thought he was bread crumbs and started charging me. Horrifying, Lydia, the way they gobbled him up. A frenzy. Joey would've abhorred all the attention.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Zoo” by Matthew J. Sullivan, 2021
A grieving person attempts a bizarre ritual with a loved one’s ashes, confronting absurdity and guilt while seeking closure.
In simple terms: Grieving can lead to strange, guilt‑laden actions.
Key Takeaway
Find healthy ways to honor loss.
Themes
grief
guilt
absurdity
Mood
somber
conflicted
Type
narrative
psychological
When to use this quote
- funeral planning
- memorial art
- personal catharsis
Key Concepts
ritual
closure
psychological coping
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you process loss without harming yourself?
- What rituals feel respectful to you?
A Different Perspective
The act may disrespect the dead and cause distress.
