33 Quotes by Kay Ryan

Forgetting takes space./Forgotten matters displace/as much anything else as/anything else. We must/skirt unlabeled crates/as thought it made sense/and take them when we go/to other states.

Even in climes/without snow/one cannot go/foward sometimes./Things test you./You are part of/the Donners or/part of the rescue:/a muleteer in/earflaps; a/formerly hearty/Midwestern farmer/perhaps. Both/parties trapped/within sight/of the pass.

The satisfactions/of agreement are/immediate as sugar--/a melting of the/granular, a syrup/that lingers, shared/not singular./Many prefer it.

One can't work/by limelight.//A bowlful/right at/one's elbow//produces no/more than/a baleful/glow against/the kitchen table.//The fruit purveyor's/whole unstable/pyramid//doesn't equal/what daylight did.

BAIT GOATThere is a distance where magnets pull, we feel, having held them back. Likewise there is a distance where words attract. Set one out like a bait goat and wait and seven others will approach. But watch out: roving packs can pull your word away. You find your stake yanked and some rough bunch to thank.

Stardust isthe hardest thingto hold out for.You must make of yourselfa perfect plane-something stillupon which something settles-something like sugar grains onsomething like metal, but with none of the chill.It’s hard to explain. Stardust

In the hills giant oaksFall upon their kneesYou can touch parts You have no right to

I have tried to live very quietly, so I could be happy.

Tenderness and RotTenderness and rotshare a border.And rot is anaggressive neighborwhose iridescencekeeps creeping over.No lessonscan be drawnfrom this however.One is nottwo countries.One is not meatcorrupting.It is importantto stay sweetand loving.