Smell Quote by Toni Morrison
““When I first seed Cholly, I want you to know it was like all the bits of color from that time down home when all us chil'ren went berry picking after a funeral and I put some in the pocket of my Sunday dress, and they mashed up and stained my hips. My whole dress was messed with purple, and it never did wash out. Not the dress nor me. I could feel that purple deep inside me. And that lemonade Mama used to make when Pap came in out the fields. It be cool and yellowish, with seeds floating near the bottom. And that streak of green them june bugs made on the trees the night we left from down home. All of them colors was in me. Just sitting there. So when Cholly come up and tickled my foot, it was like them berries, that lemonade, them streaks of green the june bugs made, all come together. Cholly was thin then, with real light eyes. He used to whistle, and when I heerd him, shivers come on my skin.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Song of Solomon, Toni Morrison, 1977
A memory of childhood colors and sensations intertwines with the arrival of a newborn, symbolizing how past experiences shape present emotions and identity.
In simple terms: Past colors blend into new life, creating deep feeling.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how memories color present moments.
Themes
memory
identity
sensory
family
growth
Mood
nostalgic
reflective
poignant
Type
literary
personal
When to use this quote
- parenting
- grief processing
- creative inspiration
- cultural storytelling
Key Concepts
color symbolism
intergenerational trauma
embodiment
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your early sensory memories influence your current emotions?
- What colors represent pivotal moments in your life?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may obscure concrete details, making interpretation subjective.
