Quote

The woman is not just a pleasure, nor even a problem. She is a meniscus that allows the absolute to have a shape, that lets him skate however briefly on the mystery, her presence luminous on the ordinary and the grand. Like the odor at night in Pittsburgh’s empty streets after summer rain on maples and sycamore.

Jack Gilbert

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Jack Gilbert
Age: 87 †
Born: 1925
Born: February 28
Died: 2012
Died: November 13
Poet
Pittsburg
Pennsylvania
Like
Ordinary
Absolute
Briefly
Mystery
Shape
Skates
Streets
Presence
Odor
Pleasure
Shapes
Luminous
Sycamore
Woman
Rain
Lets
Maples
Night
Summer
Grand
Skate
Problem
Empty
Allows
Maple
Even
However
Absolutes
Pittsburgh

More quotes by Jack Gilbert

Image
Duende I can't remember her name. It's not as though I've been in bed with that many women. The truth is I can't even remember her face. I kind of know how strong her thighs were, and her beauty. But what I won't forget is the way she tore open the barbecued chicken with her hands, and wiped the grease on her breasts.
Jack Gilbert
Image
Why do so manysettle for so little? I don't understand why they're not greedy for what's inside them.
Jack Gilbert
Image
Fame is a lot of fun, but it's not interesting. I loved being noticed and praised, even the banquets. But they didn't have anything that I wanted. After about six months, I found it boring.
Jack Gilbert
Image
When I was walking in the mountains with the Japanese man and began to hear the water, he said, 'What is the sound of the waterfall?' 'Silence,' he finally told me.
Jack Gilbert
Image
The heart lies to itself because it must.
Jack Gilbert
Image
We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world.
Jack Gilbert
Image
We must risk delight. We can do without pleasure, but not delight. Not enjoyment. We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world. To make injustice the only measure of our attention is to praise the Devil.
Jack Gilbert
Image
We are all burning in time, but each is consumed at his own speed.
Jack Gilbert
Image
I believe that Icarus was not failing as he fell, but just coming to the end of his triumph.
Jack Gilbert
Image
What we feel most has no name but amber, archers, cinnamon, horses and birds.
Jack Gilbert
Image
We exist with a wind whispering inside and our moon flexing. Amid the ducts, inside the basilica of bones.
Jack Gilbert
Image
We are resident inside with the machinery, a glimmering spread throughout the apparatus. We exist with a wind whispering inside and our moon flexing. Amid the ducts, inside the basilica of bones. The flesh is a neighborhood, but not the life.
Jack Gilbert
Image
We must unlearn the constellations to see the stars.
Jack Gilbert
Image
Question the bravery. Say it's not courage. Call it a passion.
Jack Gilbert
Image
Our heart wanders lost in the dark woods. Our dream wrestles in the castle of doubt. But there’s music in us. Hope is pushed down but the angel flies up again taking us with her.
Jack Gilbert