The self forms at the edge of desire, and a science of self arises in the effort to leave that self behind.
ANNE CARSONRelated Topics
Anand Thakur
The self forms at the edge of desire, and a science of self arises in the effort to leave that self behind.
ANNE CARSONHere we go mother on the shipless ocean. Pity us, pity the ocean, here we go.
ANNE CARSONI mean, every thought starts over, so every expression of a thought has to do the same. every accuracy has to be invented… I feel I am blundering in concepts too fine for me.
ANNE CARSONAt least half of your mind is always thinking, I’ll be leaving; this won’t last. It’s a good Buddhist attitude. If I were a Buddhist, this would be a great help. As it is, I’m just sad.
ANNE CARSONWe’re talking about the struggle to drag a thought over from the mush of the unconscious into some kind of grammar, syntax, human sense; every attempt means starting over with language. Starting over with accuracy.
ANNE CARSONI’ve come to understand that the best one can hope for as a human is to have a relationship with that emptiness where God would be if God were available, but God isn’t.
ANNE CARSONDesire doubled is love and love doubled is madness.
ANNE CARSONThey were two superior eels at the bottom of the tank and they recognized each other like italics.
ANNE CARSONWhen an ecstatic is asked the question, What is it that love dares the self to do? she will answer: Love dares the self to leave itself behind, to enter into poverty.
ANNE CARSONA page with a poem on it is less attractive than a page with a poem on it and some tea stains.
ANNE CARSONReality is a sound, you have to tune in to it not just keep yelling.
ANNE CARSONI am kind of a curmudgeonly person, so I don’t gravitate to groups or traditions, which is probably just pretentious of me.
ANNE CARSONWhy does tragedy exist? Because you are full of rage. Why are you full of rage? Because you are full of grief.
ANNE CARSONYou doubt God? Well more to the point I credit God with the good sense to doubt me. What is mortality after all but divine doubt flashing over us? For an instant God suspends assent and poof! we disappear.
ANNE CARSONHe stood against the wind and let it peel him clean.
ANNE CARSONThe words we read and words we write never say exactly what we mean. The people we love are never just as we desire them. The two symbols never perfectly match. Eros is in between.
ANNE CARSON