The life spills over, some days. She cannot be at rest, Wishes she could explode Like that red tree– The one that bursts into fire All this week. Senses her infinite smallness But can’t seize it, Recognizes the folly of desire, The folly of withdrawal– Kicks at the curb, the pavement, If only she could, at this moment, When what she’s doing is plodding To the bus stop, to go to school, Passing that fiery tree–if only she could Be making love, Be making a painting, Be exploding, be speeding through the universe Like a photon, like a shower Of yellow flames– She believes if she could only catch up With the riding rhythm of things, of her own electrons, Then she would be at rest– If she could forget school, Climb the tree, Be the tree, burn like that. Alicia Suskin Ostriker
About This Quote

The identity of a person is not defined by what they do or by who they are, but by the things they make. A name, a poem, a painting is a piece of their life. The life spills over, some days. She cannot be at rest, wishes she could explode like that red tree – the one that bursts into fire all this week.

Senses her infinite smallness but can’t seize it recognizes the folly of desire, the folly of withdrawal kicks at the curb, the pavement if only she could be making love, be making a painting, be exploding, be speeding through the universe like a photon yellow flames.She believes if she could only catch up with the riding rhythm of things, of her own electrons then she would be at rest. If she could forget school climb the tree be the tree burn like that.

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More Quotes By Alicia Suskin Ostriker
  1. May, and after a rainy spring We walk streets gallant with rhododendrons.
  2. The life spills over, some days. She cannot be at rest, Wishes she could explode Like that red tree– The one that bursts into fire All this week. Senses her infinite smallness But can’t seize it, Recognizes the folly of desire, The folly of withdrawal–...
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