Beginning Quote by W.S. Merwin
““As though it had always been forbidden to remember each of us grew up knowing nothing about the beginning””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Forbidden Memory”, 1995
Remembering origins feels forbidden, yet it shapes our identity.
In simple terms: We forget our beginnings, though they matter.
Key Takeaway
Embrace and explore personal history.
Themes
memory
identity
forbiddance
Mood
poetic
thoughtful
Type
literary
psychological
When to use this quote
- family history
- cultural heritage
- personal narratives
Key Concepts
nostalgia
self‑discovery
historical consciousness
Questions to Reflect On
- What does forgetting cost?
- How can memory heal?
A Different Perspective
May cause painful recollection.
![“The thing that makes poetry different from all other arts [is that] you're using language, which is what you use for everything else--telling lies and selling socks, advertising and conducting law. Whereas we don't write little concerti to each other, or paint pictures.” quote by W.S. Merwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d26/w-s-merwin-2-23725_art_the-thing-that-makes-poetry-different-fr_508289.jpg)
