--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Black milk of daybreak we drink it at…" description: "\"Black milk of daybreak we drink it at sundown.\" — Paul Celan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/paul-celan-10412_bitterness_black-milk-of-daybreak-we-drink-it-at-su_2060133.jpg" --- # Black milk of daybreak we drink it at sundown. ![“Black milk of daybreak we drink it at sundown.” quote by Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/paul-celan-10412_bitterness_black-milk-of-daybreak-we-drink-it-at-su_2060133.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/paul-celan-10412_bitterness_black-milk-of-daybreak-we-drink-it-at-su_2060133.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/paul-celan-10412_bitterness_black-milk-of-daybreak-we-drink-it-at-su_2060133.jpg) > “Black milk of daybreak we drink it at sundown.” [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poem juxtaposes darkness and nourishment, reflecting on trauma and survival. **In simple terms:** Darkness can be sustaining. Key Takeaway Seek meaning in paradoxical experiences. Themes trauma survival poetry Mood melancholic reflective Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - therapy - literary study - personal reflection Key Concepts existential paradox memory language play Questions to Reflect On - How does the poem’s imagery relate to personal loss? - What does “black milk” symbolize? A Different Perspective Interpretation can be obscure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bitterness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-milk-1577009/) [Blackness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blackness/) [Daybreak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daybreak/) [Daybreak Drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daybreak-drink-3250343/) [Drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drink/) [Drink Sundown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drink-sundown-3250342/) [Good morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-morning/) [Holocaust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holocaust/) [Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/milk/) [Milk Daybreak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/milk-daybreak-3927319/) [Sundown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sundown/) ## Related quotes > [“Black milk of daybreak we drink it at sundown we drink it at noon in the morning we drink it at night we drink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/black-milk-of-daybreak-we-drink-it-at-sundown-we-drink-it-at-noon-in/) [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) > [All my life's a circle; Sunrise and sundown; Moon rolls thru the nighttime; Till the daybreak comes around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapin/all-my-life-s-a-circle-sunrise-and-sundown-moon-rolls-thru-the/) [Harry Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-chapin/) > [I feel like Black Milk has found his way of putting his life into his music. I feel like, lyrically, he is a beast;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bj-the-chicago-kid/i-feel-like-black-milk-has-found-his-way-of-putting-his-life-into-his/) [BJ the Chicago Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bj-the-chicago-kid/) > [We got a good little vibe and chemistry with Black Milk. He kept giving us different style of beats that felt like this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-real/we-got-a-good-little-vibe-and-chemistry-with-black-milk-he-kept/) [B-Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-real/) > [Sundown- When the sun must make peace with the moon and for a few brief moments, the two touch in mutual friendship and respect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/sundown-when-the-sun-must-make-peace-with-the-moon-and-for-a-few/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Sundown is often the worst time of day for people with dementia. They can become restless and difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-graham/sundown-is-often-the-worst-time-of-day-for-people-with-dementia-they/) [Laurie Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-graham/) > [“Check on Ren.” – Sundown “In the electricity cube? What kind of psycho are you?” – Sasha “Sasha…” – Sundown “Fine. I get shocked,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/check-on-ren-sundown-in-the-electricity-cube-what-kind-of-psycho-are/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“You believe everything you read in the papers? They get all the facts screwed up, and I think most of them are so crooked,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-believe-everything-you-read-in-the-papers-they-get-all-the-facts/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“You take the air. I’ll get a bike. And you–” – Sundown “Have an app. Track her down, get my car back, and beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-take-the-air-i-ll-get-a-bike-and-you-sundown-have-an-app-track/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“You ready for the next part?” – Sundown “Like an adrenaline shot straight into my heart via my eyes.” – Abigail”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-ready-for-the-next-part-sundown-like-an-adrenaline-shot-straight/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Sometimes dead wasn’t dead enough.’ – Sundown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/sometimes-dead-wasn-t-dead-enough-sundown/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [In college, you had to worry about that math class or this exam that's coming up on Tuesday, but not in the professionals. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cam-newton/in-college-you-had-to-worry-about-that-math-class-or-this-exam-that-s/) [Cam Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cam-newton/) > [“Suddenly, the wind got hold of the hammock. Leaves murmured. It was cold and the sun had gone down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-speh/suddenly-the-wind-got-hold-of-the-hammock-leaves-murmured-it-was-cold/) [Marcus Speh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-speh/) > [“Nightfall was approaching, the light pouring away past the world’s horizon in a gradually darkening cascade.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obie-williams/nightfall-was-approaching-the-light-pouring-away-past-the-world-s/) [Obie Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obie-williams/) > [“Yes, sir?” – Sundown “Is there a problem?” – Officer ‘Uh, yeah. You people are bugging the shit out of me when I need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/yes-sir-sundown-is-there-a-problem-officer-uh-yeah-you-people-are/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) ## More by Paul Celan > [“Autumn eats its leaf out of my hand: we are friends. From the nuts we shell time and we teach it to walk: then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/autumn-eats-its-leaf-out-of-my-hand-we-are-friends-from-the-nuts-we/) [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) > [Tall poplars--human beings of this earth!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/tall-poplars-human-beings-of-this-earth/) [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) > [Death is a master from Germany.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/death-is-a-master-from-germany/) [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) > [“spills of mire I swallowed inside the tower”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/spills-of-mire-i-swallowed-inside-the-tower/) [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) > [We are told that when Hölderlin went 'mad,' he constantly repeated, 'Nothing is happening to me, nothing is happening to me.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/we-are-told-that-when-h-lderlin-went-mad-he-constantly-repeated/) [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) > [He speaks truly who speaks the shade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/he-speaks-truly-who-speaks-the-shade/) [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) > [“Your hair waves once more when I weep. With the blue of your eyes you lay the table of love: a bed between summer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/your-hair-waves-once-more-when-i-weep-with-the-blue-of-your-eyes-you/) [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) > [They've healed me to pieces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/they-ve-healed-me-to-pieces/) [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) > [Poetry is perhaps this: an Atemwende, a turning of our breath. Who knows, perhaps poetry goes its way—the way of art—for the sake of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/poetry-is-perhaps-this-an-atemwende-a-turning-of-our-breath-who-knows/) [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) > [There was earth inside them, and they dug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/there-was-earth-inside-them-and-they-dug/) [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) > [Read! Read all the time, the understanding will come by itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/read-read-all-the-time-the-understanding-will-come-by-itself/) [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) > [“Schwerer werden. Leichter sein.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/schwerer-werden-leichter-sein/) [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) > [“Autunm eats its leaf out of my hand: we are friends. From the nuts we shell time and we teach it to walk: then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/autunm-eats-its-leaf-out-of-my-hand-we-are-friends-from-the-nuts-we/) [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) > [Reality is not simply there, it must be searched and won.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/reality-is-not-simply-there-it-must-be-searched-and-won/) [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) > [Don't sign your name between worlds, surmount the manifold of meanings, trust the tearstain, learn to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/don-t-sign-your-name-between-worlds-surmount-the-manifold-of-meanings/) [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) [Explore all 61 Paul Celan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) ## More Bitterness quotes > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [If Japanese tea 'stands,' it acquires a coarse bitterness and an unwholesome astringency. Milk and sugar are not used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-bird/if-japanese-tea-stands-it-acquires-a-coarse-bitterness-and-an/) [Isabella Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-bird/) > [Stronger than alcohol, vaster than poetry, Ferment the freckled red bitterness of love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/stronger-than-alcohol-vaster-than-poetry-ferment-the-freckled-red/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [“What?" I ask. I try not to get snappy with her. She hasn't really done anything wrong. Falling in love with Turner isn't a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m-stunich/what-i-ask-i-try-not-to-get-snappy-with-her-she-hasn-t-really-done/) [C.M. Stunich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-stunich/) > [“The fairest things have fleetest end, Their scent survives their close: But the rose’s scent is bitterness To him that loved the rose. —Francis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-rule/the-fairest-things-have-fleetest-end-their-scent-survives-their-close/) [Ann Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-rule/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“No," I say. "I didn't know that," and as I say it I feel flooded with bitterness at all the things Ingrid kept secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/no-i-say-i-didn-t-know-that-and-as-i-say-it-i-feel-flooded-with/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [Forgiving someone who've done you wrong or didn't treat you right could mean that you are allowing yourself to end up away from bitterness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-t-pascua/forgiving-someone-who-ve-done-you-wrong-or-didn-t-treat-you-right/) [April T Pascua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-t-pascua/) > [You cannot be inspired if you are surrounded with negativity, open the door and step into the inspirational garden of nature. Do not let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/you-cannot-be-inspired-if-you-are-surrounded-with-negativity-open-the/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it. Carry it by the comfortable handles of gratitude for what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/it-s-not-the-load-that-breaks-you-down-it-s-the-way-you-carry-it/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [Not forgiving prolongs hurt and anger and leads to smoldering resentment, which will make us miserable until it kills us. Resentment destroys the perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-walters/not-forgiving-prolongs-hurt-and-anger-and-leads-to-smoldering/) [Richard Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-walters/) > [Let us not give in to pessimism, to that bitterness that the devil offers us every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/let-us-not-give-in-to-pessimism-to-that-bitterness-that-the-devil/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Sometimes it is good to remind ourselves how bitterness tastes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rin-chupeco/sometimes-it-is-good-to-remind-ourselves-how-bitterness-tastes/) [Rin Chupeco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rin-chupeco/) > [What folly made young people, even those in middle age, think they were immortal? How much better, their lives, if they could remember the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/what-folly-made-young-people-even-those-in-middle-age-think-they-were/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [Be sure there is something waiting for you after much patience, to astonish you to a degree, that you forget the bitterness of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/be-sure-there-is-something-waiting-for-you-after-much-patience-to/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) [Browse all 1,210 Bitterness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Black milk of daybreak we drink it at sundown.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Celan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/black-milk-of-daybreak-we-drink-it-at-sundown/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bitterness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/black-milk-of-daybreak-we-drink-it-at-sundown/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/paul-celan-10412_bitterness_black-milk-of-daybreak-we-drink-it-at-su_2060133.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/paul-celan-10412_bitterness_black-milk-of-daybreak-we-drink-it-at-su_2060133.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/paul-celan-10412_bitterness_black-milk-of-daybreak-we-drink-it-at-su_2060133.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Black milk of daybreak we drink it at sundown.” — Paul Celan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paul Celan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Black milk of daybreak we drink...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/black-milk-of-daybreak-we-drink-it-at-sundown/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/black-milk-of-daybreak-we-drink-it-at-sundown/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```