--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Paralytic It happens. Will it go on?…" description: "\"“Paralytic It happens. Will it go on? ---- My mind a rock, No fingers to grip, no tongue, My god the iron lung That loves me, pumps My two Dust bags in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/sylvia-plath-149_buddhism_paralytic-it-happens-will-it-go-on-my-mi_2869034.jpg" --- # Paralytic It happens. Will it go on? ---- My mind a rock… ![“Paralytic It happens. Will it go on? ---- My mind a rock, No fingers to grip, no tongue, My god the iron lung That loves me, pumps My two Dust bags in and out, Will not Let me relapse While the day outside glides by like ticker tape. The night brings violets, Tapestries of eyes, Lights, The soft…” quote by Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/sylvia-plath-149_buddhism_paralytic-it-happens-will-it-go-on-my-mi_2869034.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/sylvia-plath-149_buddhism_paralytic-it-happens-will-it-go-on-my-mi_2869034.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/sylvia-plath-149_buddhism_paralytic-it-happens-will-it-go-on-my-mi_2869034.jpg) > ““Paralytic It happens. Will it go on? ---- My mind a rock, No fingers to grip, no tongue, My god the iron lung That loves me, pumps My two Dust bags in and out, Will not Let me relapse While the day outside glides by like ticker tape. The night brings violets, Tapestries of eyes, Lights, The soft anonymous Talkers: 'You all right?' The starched, inaccessible breast. Dead egg, I lie Whole On a whole world I cannot touch, At the white, tight Drum of my sleeping couch Photographs visit me ---- My wife, dead and flat, in 1920 furs, Mouth full of pearls, Two girls As flat as she, who whisper 'We're your daughters.' The still waters Wrap my lips, Eyes, nose and ears, A clear Cellophane I cannot crack. On my bare back I smile, a buddha, all Wants, desire Falling from me like rings Hugging their lights. The claw Of the magnolia, Drunk on its own scents, Asks nothing of life.”” [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. A fragmented meditation on illness, isolation, and the yearning for connection amid physical decay. **In simple terms:** Illness isolates but the mind still seeks comfort and meaning. Key Takeaway Find moments of beauty even in suffering. Themes suffering isolation longing identity mortality Mood melancholic reflective hopeful Type poetic confessional lypective When to use this quote - hospital stay - chronic illness - grief processing - creative writing - therapy Key Concepts existentialism psychological introspection imagery Questions to Reflect On - How does physical confinement shape inner dialogue? - What small comforts can anchor us in pain? A Different Perspective The poem’s abstract style may obscure practical coping strategies for readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Desire Falling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-falling-2895169/) [Hospital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hospital/) [Iron Lung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iron-lung/) [Lung Loves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lung-loves-3914869/) [Paralytic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paralytic-3914868/) [Paralytic Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paralytic-happens-3914867/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Relapse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relapse/) [Sickness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sickness/) [Whole world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-world/) ## Related quotes > [When I'm not paralytic, I like to play golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-thatcher/when-i-m-not-paralytic-i-like-to-play-golf/) [Denis Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-thatcher/) > [Although its fascinating to fall in love but with the right person that desire you, falling in love quickly with a special someone can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/although-its-fascinating-to-fall-in-love-but-with-the-right-person/) [Kemmy Nola Http://wwwamoreloveforlifecom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/) > [These friendly skies aint for you, they for me and mine, this the year of the grimy nigga, Ragtime, peep these niggas on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wu-tang/these-friendly-skies-aint-for-you-they-for-me-and-mine-this-the-year/) [Wu Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wu-tang/) > [on Broadway money rules. 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Will it go on? ---- My mind a rock, No fingers to grip, no tongue, My god the iron lung That loves me, pumps My two Dust bags in and out, Will not Let me relapse While the day outside glides by like ticker tape. The night brings violets, Tapestries of eyes, Lights, The soft anonymous Talkers: 'You all right?' The starched, inaccessible breast. Dead egg, I lie Whole On a whole world I cannot touch, At the white, tight Drum of my sleeping couch Photographs visit me ---- My wife, dead and flat, in 1920 furs, Mouth full of pearls, Two girls As flat as she, who whisper 'We're your daughters.' The still waters Wrap my lips, Eyes, nose and ears, A clear Cellophane I cannot crack. On my bare back I smile, a buddha, all Wants, desire Falling from me like rings Hugging their lights. 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