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Death Quote by Ted Kooser

“Above us, stars. Beneath us, constellations. Five billion miles away, a galaxy dies like a snowflake falling on water. Below us, some farmer, feeling the chill of that distant death, snaps on his yard light, drawing his sheds and barn back into the little system of his care. All night, the cities…” quote by Ted Kooser
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““Above us, stars. Beneath us, constellations. Five billion miles away, a galaxy dies like a snowflake falling on water. Below us, some farmer, feeling the chill of that distant death, snaps on his yard light, drawing his sheds and barn back into the little system of his care. All night, the cities, like shimmering novas, tug with bright streets at lonely lights like his.””

Ted Kooser

About This Quote

Source Poem: The World of Ted Kooser, 1990

The poem contrasts cosmic vastness with everyday human life, showing how small actions connect us to larger existence.

In simple terms: Big events and tiny deeds are linked.

Key Takeaway

Notice how daily acts echo larger patterns.

Themes

cosmos humanity connection

Mood

contemplative melancholic

Type

poetic observational

When to use this quote

  • nighttime farming
  • city living
  • personal reflection
  • environmental awareness

Key Concepts

existentialism scale interdependence

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you feel your routine relates to the universe?
  • What small actions make you feel part of something larger?
A Different Perspective

The metaphor may romanticize ordinary life, overlooking hardship.

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