Beautiful Quote by Richard Siken
“I wanted to be wanted and he was very beautiful, kissed with his eyes closed, and only felt good while moving. You could drown in those eyes, I said, so it’s summer, so it’s suicide, so we’re helpless in sleep and struggling at the bottom of the pool.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Book of Hours" by Richard Siken, 2015
A yearning for connection meets the paradox of desire and vulnerability, using vivid imagery of eyes, summer, and drowning to convey emotional turmoil.
In simple terms: Desire and vulnerability clash, feeling both drawn and overwhelmed.
Key Takeaway
Embrace honest feeling, recognize its intensity.
Themes
desire
vulnerability
love
identity
melancholy
Mood
intense
melancholic
conflicted
Type
poetic
literary
emotional
When to use this quote
- intimate relationships
- self‑reflection
- artistic creation
- mental health
- creative writing
Key Concepts
existential longing
sensory imagery
emotional paradox
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance yearning with self‑care?
- What does “summer” symbolize here?
A Different Perspective
The intensity may mask underlying self‑destructive impulses.
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
