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How many years have slipped through our hands?
At least as many as the constellations we still can identify.
The quarter moon, like a light skiff,
 floats out of the mist-remnants
Of last night’s hard rain.
It, too, will slip through our fingers
 with no ripple, without us in it.
Charles Wright
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote reflects on the passage of time and the fleeting nature of life, suggesting that moments vanish like the moon through mist.

In this quote, Charles Wright meditates on the ephemeral nature of time and experiences. He draws a parallel between the years that seemingly slip away unnoticed and the constellations in the night sky, which remain constant even as individual moments fade from memory. The imagery of the quarter moon floating through the mist evokes a sense of beauty coupled with loss, emphasizing that life’s moments, like the moon and rain, can pass without leaving a mark, highlighting the inevitability of time and our transient existence within it.

Themes

TimeFleetingLifeMomentsExistenceReflection

In practice

Example use cases

During a reflective speech on life's impermanence at a memorial service.

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