When you're writing, you're conjuring. It's a ritual, and you need to be brave and respectful and sometimes get out of the way of whatever it is that you're inviting into the room.
Tom WaitsRead
It's a battered old suitcase to a hotel someplace, and a wound that will never heal. No prima donna, the perfume is on an old shirt that is stained with blood and whiskey. Goodnight to the street sweepers, the night watchmen flame keepers and goodnight, Matilda, too.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the struggles and harsh realities of life, representing both pain and resilience.
In this quote, Tom Waits uses vivid imagery to convey the bittersweet nature of existence. The battered suitcase symbolizes the burdens we carry, while the mention of wounds emphasizes the lasting scars that life experiences can leave behind. The farewell to street sweepers, night watchmen, and Matilda adds a touch of nostalgia and connection to the everyday lives of individuals who quietly endure their hardships, suggesting a sense of empathy and acknowledgment of shared experiences.
Themes
LifeStrugglePainResilienceNostalgia
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a reflection on life's challenges at a community gathering.
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My reality needs imagination like a bulb needs a socket. My imagination needs reality like a blind man needs a cane.
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