Is that too much to expect? That I would name the stars for you? That I would take you there? The splash of my tongue melting you like a sugar cube?

- Richard Siken

You see, I take the parts that I remember and stitch them back together to make a creature that will do what I say or love me back.

- Richard Siken

Sometimes you get so close to someone you end up on the other side of them.

- Richard Siken

Eventually something you love is going to be taken away. And then you will fall to the floor crying. And then, however much later, it is finally happ…

- Richard Siken

Let me tell you what I do know: I am more than one thing, and not all of those things are good. The truth is complicated. It’s two-toned, multi-vocal…

- Richard Siken

I sleep. I dream. I make up things that I would never say. I say them very quietly.

- Richard Siken

Do we simply stare at what is horrible and forgive it?

- Richard Siken

You play along, because you want to die for love, you always have.

- Richard Siken

When you have nothing to say, set something on fire.

- Richard Siken