--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In this particular tub, two knees jut up…" description: "\"In this particular tub, two knees jut up like icebergs, while minute brown hairs rise on arms and legs in a fringe of kelp; green soap navigates the ti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/sylvia-plath-149_arms_in-this-particular-tub-two-knees-jut-up_2741289.jpg" --- # In this particular tub, two knees jut up like icebergs… ![“In this particular tub, two knees jut up like icebergs, while minute brown hairs rise on arms and legs in a fringe of kelp; green soap navigates the tidal slosh of seas breaking on legendary beaches; in faith we shall board our imagined ship and wildly sail among sacred islands of the mad till…” quote by Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/sylvia-plath-149_arms_in-this-particular-tub-two-knees-jut-up_2741289.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/sylvia-plath-149_arms_in-this-particular-tub-two-knees-jut-up_2741289.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/sylvia-plath-149_arms_in-this-particular-tub-two-knees-jut-up_2741289.jpg) > “In this particular tub, two knees jut up like icebergs, while minute brown hairs rise on arms and legs in a fringe of kelp; green soap navigates the tidal slosh of seas breaking on legendary beaches; in faith we shall board our imagined ship and wildly sail among sacred islands of the mad till death shatters the fabulous stars and makes us real.” [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The vivid, surreal imagery blends natural and fantastical elements, urging a journey beyond ordinary perception toward profound self‑realization. **In simple terms:** Surreal images invite a transformative inner journey. Key Takeaway Explore imagination to discover deeper self. Themes imagination transformation identity nature spirituality Mood introspective enigmatic inspirational Type philosophical poetic inspirational When to use this quote - creative writing - mindfulness practice - artistic expression - personal reflection Key Concepts surrealism self‑discovery metaphor existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What personal “islands” are you seeking? - How does surreal imagery affect your sense of reality? A Different Perspective Interpretations may be overly abstract, limiting practical application. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Arms and legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms-and-legs/) [Beach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beach/) [Boards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boards/) [Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brown/) [Brown hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brown-hair/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Fabulous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fabulous/) [Fringe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fringe/) [Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/green/) [Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair/) [Iceberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iceberg/) [Islands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islands/) [Knees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knees/) [Legendary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legendary/) [Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs/) [Like Icebergs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-icebergs-2788424/) [Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad/) [Minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minutes/) [Navigate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/navigate/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) [Sail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sail/) [Sail Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sail-sacred-1437731/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Seas Breaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seas-breaking-3029153/) [Ships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ships/) [Slosh Seas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slosh-seas-3029154/) [Soap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soap/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Tubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tubs/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Wildly Sail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wildly-sail-1437732/) ## Related quotes > [“In this particular tub, two knees jut up like icebergs, while minute brown hairs rise on arms and legs in a fringe of kelp;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/in-this-particular-tub-two-knees-jut-up-like-icebergs-while-minute/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“we shall board our imagined ship and wildly sail among sacred islands of the mad till death shatters the fabulous stars and makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/we-shall-board-our-imagined-ship-and-wildly-sail-among-sacred-islands/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [...we shall board our imagined ship and wildly sail among sacred islands of the mad till death shatters the fabulous stars and makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/we-shall-board-our-imagined-ship-and-wildly-sail-among-sacred-islands-2/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“The sigh of all the seas breaking in measure round the isles soothed them; the night wrapped them; nothing broke their sleep, until, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-sigh-of-all-the-seas-breaking-in-measure-round-the-isles-soothed/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Thoughts always moved slowly through Brutha’s mind, like icebergs. They arrived slowly and left slowly and when they were there they occupied a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/thoughts-always-moved-slowly-through-brutha-s-mind-like-icebergs-they/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It may be said that poems are in one way like icebergs: only about a third of their bulk appears above the surface of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-nemerov/it-may-be-said-that-poems-are-in-one-way-like-icebergs-only-about-a/) [Howard Nemerov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-nemerov/) > [Two days like icebergs bleak, blank, half-melting, all frigid, mainly out of sight, and definitely a threat to peace of mind drifted by and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/two-days-like-icebergs-bleak-blank-half-melting-all-frigid-mainly-out/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [“People Are like Icebergs, You only really see the tip of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-sterk/people-are-like-icebergs-you-only-really-see-the-tip-of-them/) [Lucas Sterk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-sterk/) > [Like icebergs, people normally expose only a small part of themselves, and generally just the part they wish to show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/like-icebergs-people-normally-expose-only-a-small-part-of-themselves/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are like icebergs in the ocean: one-eighth part consciousness and the rest submerged beneath the surface of articulate apprehension.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gerhardie/we-are-like-icebergs-in-the-ocean-one-eighth-part-consciousness-and/) [William Gerhardie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gerhardie/) > [What I've found is that a lot of soldiers are surprisingly apolitical. Their reality is, "Today I'm going to leave the gate for twelve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/what-i-ve-found-is-that-a-lot-of-soldiers-are-surprisingly-apolitical/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [We stood back-to-back, blocking and striking in harmony; sometimes it felt like his arms and legs were an extension of me. I could count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-aguirre/we-stood-back-to-back-blocking-and-striking-in-harmony-sometimes-it/) [Ann Aguirre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-aguirre/) > [Here's a guy who can use his arms and legs at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/here-s-a-guy-who-can-use-his-arms-and-legs-at-the-same-time/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [There is hardly an American male of my generation who has not at one time or another tried to master the victory cry of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-hardly-an-american-male-of-my-generation-who-has-not-at-one/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I'm certain, as we filled down the great staircase, that I appeared the same as ever, a moping twelve years-old, all arms and legs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-m-certain-as-we-filled-down-the-great-staircase-that-i-appeared-the/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) ## More by Sylvia Plath > [“It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/it-was-a-queer-sultry-summer-the-summer-they-electrocuted-the/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [I love life. But it is hard and I have so much, so very much to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-love-life-but-it-is-hard-and-i-have-so-much-so-very-much-to-learn/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [... These are my hands My knees. I may be skin and bone, Nevertheless, I am the same, identical woman. ... --Lady Lazarus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/these-are-my-hands-my-knees-i-may-be-skin-and-bone-nevertheless-i-am/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [Sure, I’m dramatic and sloppily semi-cynical and semi-sentimental. But, in leisure years I could grow and choose my way. Now I am living on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/sure-i-m-dramatic-and-sloppily-semi-cynical-and-semi-sentimental-but/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“People were made of nothing so much as dust, and I couldn't see that doctoring all that dust was a bit better than writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/people-were-made-of-nothing-so-much-as-dust-and-i-couldn-t-see-that/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“I couldn't stand the idea of a woman having to have a single pure life and a man being able to have a double…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-couldn-t-stand-the-idea-of-a-woman-having-to-have-a-single-pure/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [I saw the gooseflesh on my skin. I did not know what made it. I was not cold. Had a ghost passed over? No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-saw-the-gooseflesh-on-my-skin-i-did-not-know-what-made-it-i-was-not/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [I have to live my life, and it is the only one I’ll ever have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-have-to-live-my-life-and-it-is-the-only-one-i-ll-ever-have/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“The city had faded my tan, though. I looked yellow as a Chinaman. Ordinarily, I would have been nervous about my dress and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/the-city-had-faded-my-tan-though-i-looked-yellow-as-a-chinaman/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [Joy:show joy & enjoy: then others will be joyful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/joy-show-joy-enjoy-then-others-will-be-joyful/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [A million years of evolution, Eric said bitterly, and what are we? Animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/a-million-years-of-evolution-eric-said-bitterly-and-what-are-we/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“I have stitched life into me like a rare organ --from "Three Women: A Poem for Three Voices", written 1962”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-have-stitched-life-into-me-like-a-rare-organ-from-three-women-a/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [It is so much safer not to feel, not to let the world touch me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/it-is-so-much-safer-not-to-feel-not-to-let-the-world-touch-me/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“Flute Notes from a Reedy Pond" Now coldness comes sifting down, layer after layer, To our bower at the lily root. Overhead the old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/flute-notes-from-a-reedy-pond-now-coldness-comes-sifting-down-layer/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“The most saddening thing is to admit that I am not in love. I can only love (if that means self denial - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/the-most-saddening-thing-is-to-admit-that-i-am-not-in-love-i-can-only/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) [Explore all 1,098 Sylvia Plath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) ## More Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) [Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In this particular tub, two knees jut up like icebergs, while minute brown hairs rise on arms and legs in a fringe of kelp; green soap navigates the tidal slosh of seas breaking on legendary beaches; in faith we shall board our imagined ship and wildly sail among sacred islands of the mad till death shatters the fabulous stars and makes us real.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sylvia Plath" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/in-this-particular-tub-two-knees-jut-up-like-icebergs-while-minute-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/in-this-particular-tub-two-knees-jut-up-like-icebergs-while-minute-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/sylvia-plath-149_arms_in-this-particular-tub-two-knees-jut-up_2741289.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/sylvia-plath-149_arms_in-this-particular-tub-two-knees-jut-up_2741289.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f2/sylvia-plath-149_arms_in-this-particular-tub-two-knees-jut-up_2741289.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In this particular tub, two knees jut up like icebergs, while minute brown hairs rise on arms and legs in a…” — Sylvia Plath", "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": "Sylvia Plath", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In this particular tub, two knees...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/in-this-particular-tub-two-knees-jut-up-like-icebergs-while-minute-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/in-this-particular-tub-two-knees-jut-up-like-icebergs-while-minute-2/#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 } } ] } ```