--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She's not dead. You didn't kill her, nor…" description: "\"She's not dead. You didn't kill her, nor did the hunger birds, although they did their best to get to you through her. She's been given her ocean. One ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/neil-gaiman-29_belly_she-s-not-dead-you-didn-t-kill-her-nor-d_3186210.jpg" --- # She's not dead. You didn't kill her, nor did the hunger… ![“She's not dead. You didn't kill her, nor did the hunger birds, although they did their best to get to you through her. She's been given her ocean. One day, in its own time, the ocean will give her back.I thought of corpses and of skeletons with pearls for eyes. I thought of mermaids with tails…” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/neil-gaiman-29_belly_she-s-not-dead-you-didn-t-kill-her-nor-d_3186210.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/neil-gaiman-29_belly_she-s-not-dead-you-didn-t-kill-her-nor-d_3186210.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/neil-gaiman-29_belly_she-s-not-dead-you-didn-t-kill-her-nor-d_3186210.jpg) > “She's not dead. You didn't kill her, nor did the hunger birds, although they did their best to get to you through her. She's been given her ocean. One day, in its own time, the ocean will give her back.I thought of corpses and of skeletons with pearls for eyes. I thought of mermaids with tails that flicked when they moved, like my goldfishes' tails had flicked before my goldfish had stopped moving, to lie, belly up, like Lettie, on the top of the water. I said, 'Will she be the same?” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## 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 reflects grief and hope, likening loss to an ocean that will eventually return what was taken. **In simple terms:** Grief compared to an ocean that will restore. Key Takeaway Trust that loss may heal over time. Themes grief hope renewal Mood melancholic hopeful Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - personal loss - healing - nature cycles - spiritual reflection Key Concepts metaphor transformation Questions to Reflect On - What does the ocean symbolize for you? - How can you find patience in loss? A Different Perspective Healing may be slow and uncertain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Goldfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goldfish/) [Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Mermaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mermaid/) [Mermaids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mermaids/) [Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean/) [Skeletons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skeletons/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [This is my favorite picture that I drew When I was young,I thought mermaids was real,but they actually weren't. I miss my old memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-is-my-favorite-picture-that-i-drew-when-i-was-young-i-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Dylan - "A mermaid found a swimming lad Picked him for her own Presses her body to his body Laughed; and plunging down, Forgot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/dylan-a-mermaid-found-a-swimming-lad-picked-him-for-her-own-presses/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“Even if they are fictional, I always thought that mermaids were beautiful creatures. Of course, they don’t compare to you, but still…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniele-lanzarotta/even-if-they-are-fictional-i-always-thought-that-mermaids-were/) [Daniele Lanzarotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniele-lanzarotta/) > [Goldfish have no memory, I guess their lives are much like mine. And the little plastic castle is a surprise everytime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/goldfish-have-no-memory-i-guess-their-lives-are-much-like-mine-and/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [There's an old adage," he said, "translated from the ancient Coptic, that contains all the wisdom of the ages -- "Life is life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/there-s-an-old-adage-he-said-translated-from-the-ancient-coptic-that/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [The snack that smiles back. GOLDFISH <3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheridan/the-snack-that-smiles-back-goldfish-3/) Sheridan > [Every parent who has ever said a few words over a goldfish in a toilet bowl or felt the numbness of an unexpected diagnosis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-borgman/every-parent-who-has-ever-said-a-few-words-over-a-goldfish-in-a/) Lori Borgman > [“Love reminds me of when I was six and had a pet goldfish named “Silverbird” that I carried around the house, petting it like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/love-reminds-me-of-when-i-was-six-and-had-a-pet-goldfish-named/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Does anyone else have an Epileptic Goldfish? Do you find it's alright when you,put it back in it's bowl?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/does-anyone-else-have-an-epileptic-goldfish-do-you-find-it-s-alright/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The ego of a god, the wit of a goldfish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-wharton/the-ego-of-a-god-the-wit-of-a-goldfish/) Shah Wharton > [Like a fish needs a bicycle. A goldfish riding a bicycle underwater. I need a man like a fish needs a bicycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-dunn/like-a-fish-needs-a-bicycle-a-goldfish-riding-a-bicycle-underwater-i/) Irina Dunn > [Life isn’t fair. Fair is somewhere you go to ride the dodgems and win a goldfish. (from Rush of Blood)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-billingham/life-isn-t-fair-fair-is-somewhere-you-go-to-ride-the-dodgems-and-win/) [Mark Billingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-billingham/) > [ My wife and I have long discussions about \[George\] Carlin, and we refuse to accept that he died an atheist. It's just, confounding. When… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/my-wife-and-i-have-long-discussions-about-george-carlin-and-we-refuse/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [Most times a person grows up gradually, but I found myself in a hurry... Hoping to find an answer, I uncovered an article about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-august/most-times-a-person-grows-up-gradually-but-i-found-myself-in-a-hurry/) [John August](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-august/) > [Goldfish are flowers ... flowers that move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-suyin/goldfish-are-flowers-flowers-that-move/) [Han Suyin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-suyin/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. For some days the needle had been over in the red, occasionally banging jerkily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/like-all-sentient-beings-fat-charlie-had-a-weirdness-quotient-for/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Shadow crawled across the floor to the yellow foam-rubber pad and climbed onto it, pulling the thin blanket over himself, and closed his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-crawled-across-the-floor-to-the-yellow-foam-rubber-pad-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [So many things to see, people to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-many-things-to-see-people-to-do/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More Belly quotes > [I'm bigger than you! I'm higher on the food chain - get in my belly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/i-m-bigger-than-you-i-m-higher-on-the-food-chain-get-in-my-belly/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [I was the first to win a major with a belly putter, and I've spent hours practicing that way, so I hope they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-bradley/i-was-the-first-to-win-a-major-with-a-belly-putter-and-i-ve-spent/) [Keegan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-bradley/) > [That devilish Iron Horse, whose ear-rending neigh is heard throughout the town, has muddied the Boiling Spring with his foot, and he it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/that-devilish-iron-horse-whose-ear-rending-neigh-is-heard-throughout/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I liked the taste of beer, its live, white lather, its brass-bright depths, the sudden world through the wet-brown walls of the glass, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/i-liked-the-taste-of-beer-its-live-white-lather-its-brass-bright/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [“Somewhere squidgy. Your belly, maybe?” “I can’t believe you called my belly ‘squidgy.’ It’s not squidgy, it’s pillowy. And sexy!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-peeler/somewhere-squidgy-your-belly-maybe-i-can-t-believe-you-called-my/) [Nicole Peeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-peeler/) > [“That man’s so low he has to reach up to rub the belly of a snake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/that-man-s-so-low-he-has-to-reach-up-to-rub-the-belly-of-a-snake/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) > [We sat there, not talking, for a few minutes. He ate the Moon Pie; only skinny people can scarf down junk food like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/we-sat-there-not-talking-for-a-few-minutes-he-ate-the-moon-pie-only/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I get so nervous, I get belly pains before I go on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ora/i-get-so-nervous-i-get-belly-pains-before-i-go-on-stage/) [Rita Ora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-ora/) > [I can reason down or deny everything, except this perpetual Belly: feed he must and will, and I cannot make him respectable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-can-reason-down-or-deny-everything-except-this-perpetual-belly-feed/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I've learned ballet for seven years and Kathak and belly dancing for some time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhhi-agerwal/i-ve-learned-ballet-for-seven-years-and-kathak-and-belly-dancing-for/) [Nidhhi Agerwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nidhhi-agerwal/) > [It's very important to not repeat yourself. After 'Delhi Belly,' I was offered 40 'Delhi Belly's and you can't do that! So 'Revolver Rani'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vir-das/it-s-very-important-to-not-repeat-yourself-after-delhi-belly-i-was/) [Vir Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vir-das/) > [I asked these Indians: "Do men ever make Chicha?" My question was met with gales of laughter. The women howled. Bent over in hilarity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-d-eames/i-asked-these-indians-do-men-ever-make-chicha-my-question-was-met/) [Alan D. Eames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-d-eames/) > [Wit, like the Belly, if it be not fed, Will starve the Members, and distract the Head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/wit-like-the-belly-if-it-be-not-fed-will-starve-the-members-and/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [After three years down here, I've not learned too much. But one thing I do know is that our bellies aren't big enough for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-three-years-down-here-i-ve-not-learned-too-much-but-one-thing-i/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [The City of New York is like an enormous citadel, a modern Carcassonne. Walking between the magnificent skyscrapers one feels the presence on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/the-city-of-new-york-is-like-an-enormous-citadel-a-modern-carcassonne/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) Browse all 662 Belly quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "She's not dead. You didn't kill her, nor did the hunger birds, although they did their best to get to you through her. She's been given her ocean. One day, in its own time, the ocean will give her back.I thought of corpses and of skeletons with pearls for eyes. 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