Every now and then she looked around for tangible evidence of his having ever been there. Where were the butterflies? the blueberries? the whistling reed? She could find nothing, for he had left nothing but his stunning absence.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the deep emotional impact of someone's absence and the longing for tangible memories they leave behind.
In this quote, Toni Morrison captures the essence of loss and the bittersweet nature of memories tied to a loved one. The protagonist searches for physical reminders—symbolized by butterflies, blueberries, and a whistling reed—of the person who has left an indelible mark on her life, yet finds only the void they created with their absence. This highlights how the presence of someone special can color our experiences and memories, and when they leave, it is not just their physical form that is missed, but the essence of what they brought to our lives.
In practice
This quote could be used in a eulogy to express the void left by a loved one.
There is a certain kind of peace that is not merely the absence of war. It is larger than that. The peace I am thinking of is not at the mercy of history's rule, nor is it a passive surrender to the status quo. The peace I am thinking of is the dance of an open mind when it engages another equally open one -- an activity that occurs most naturally, most often in the reading/writing world we live in. Accessible as it is, this particular kind of peace warrants vigilance.
You looking good." "Devil's confusion. He lets me look good long as I feel bad.
What do you say? There really are no words for that. There really aren't. Somebody tries to say, 'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.' People say that to me. There's no language for it. Sorry doesn't do it. I think you should just hug people and mop their floor or something.
An innocent man is a sin before God. Inhuman and therefore untrustworthy. No man should live without absorbing the sins of his kind, the foul air of his innocence, even if it did wilt rows of angel trumpets and cause them to fall from their vines.
Like friendship, hatred needed more than physical intimacy; it wanted creativity and hard work to sustain itself
One of my kids was born in 1968. There were going to be political difficulties, but they were never going to have that level of hatred and contempt that my brothers and my sister and myself were exposed to.
When you are sixteen you do not know what your parents know, or much of what they understand, and less of what's in their hearts. This can save you from becoming an adult too early, save your life from becoming only theirs lived over again--which is a loss. But to shield yourself--as I didn't do--seems to be an even greater error, since what's lost is the truth of your parents' life and what you should think about it, and beyond that, how you should estimate the world you are about to live in.
Japanese affection is not uttered in words; it scarcely appears even in the tone of voice; it is chiefly shown in acts of exquisite courtesy and kindness.
Intimate, loving, and enduring relationships with our family and close friends will be among the sources of the deepest joy in our lives.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Accept the risen Jesus into your life. Even if you have been far away, take a small step towards Him. He awaits you with open arms.
You see, we are here, as far as I can tell, to help each other - our brothers, our sisters, our friends, our enemies. That's to help each other, not hurt each other.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.