What I thought was an end turned out to be a middle. What I thought was a brick wall turned out to be a tunnel. What I thought was an injustice turned out to be a color of the sky.
Interpretation
This quote reflects on the idea that perceived obstacles and endings can often lead to new beginnings and perspectives.
In this quote, Tony Hoagland explores the transformative nature of perception, revealing how life experiences that initially seem like finality or barriers can actually be gateways to new insights and opportunities. The imagery he uses—a middle instead of an end, a tunnel instead of a wall, and a color of the sky instead of an injustice—symbolizes the unexpected beauty and possibilities that can arise from our challenges, encouraging a shift in perspective.
In practice
Using this quote in a motivational speech to inspire resilience in the face of challenges.
So much of what I love about poetry lies in the vast possibilities of voice, the spectacular range of idiosyncratic flavors that can be embedded in a particular human voice reporting from the field. One beautiful axis of voice is the one that runs between vulnerability and detachment, between 'It hurts to be alive' and 'I can see a million miles from here.' A good poetic voice can do both at once.
When you're a student of poetry, you're lucky if you don't realize how untalented you are until you get a little better. Otherwise, you would just stop.
For it is the dawn that has come, as it has come for a thousand centuries, never failing.
The liberation of the earth, the liberation of women, the liberation of all humanity is the next step of freedom we need to work for, and it's the next step of peace that we need to create.
... we believe in the vocation of communion and participation of our people, who day to day awaken to their political conscience and express their desire for change and profound democratization of society. A change based on justice, built with love, and which will bring us the most anxiously desired fruits of peace.
We are - each and every one of us - unlearning misogyny. It's going to take some time. But be aware and active of your prejudices. Notice when they kick in and resist. Fight to stay soft and open. Step back and squint hard.
Women can drive progress towards the central goals of mine action, which aims to increase security, rebuild communities, reclaim land and end the looming fear caused by explosive remnants of war.
Why did everything always change when all you wanted, all you had ever humbly asked of whatever God there might be, was that certain things be allowed to stay the same?
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