“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.”
In this quote by Richard Siken, the poet explores the idea of reconstructing memories to create a version of reality that conforms to our desires. By metaphorically comparing this process to creating a creature that will obey or love us, Siken delves into the complexity of human relationships and the lengths to which we may go to feel accepted and loved. The quote reflects the human tendency to idealize and manipulate past experiences in order to mold our current relationships.
In today's society, the idea of constructing a persona or identity by piecing together various memories and experiences is more relevant than ever. With the rise of social media and the ability to curate and showcase certain aspects of our lives, many individuals are creating an online version of themselves that may not always align with reality. This quote from Richard Siken highlights the desire for control and acceptance, which can be seen in how people present themselves in the digital age.
In this quote by poet Richard Siken, he describes the process of piecing together memories and emotions to create something that will fulfill his desires.
Contemplate on the idea of taking memories and stitching them together to create something that will fulfill your desires or bring you love. How does this concept resonate with your own experiences or relationships?
Consider the complexity of human emotions and connections. How do you interpret the idea of creating a creature or entity that fulfills your desires or provides love? Is this a healthy approach to relationships, or does it speak to deeper emotional needs?
Reflect on the power dynamics at play in the quote. How do control, manipulation, and vulnerability intersect in the act of creating something to love you back? How do these dynamics manifest in your own relationships or self-perception?
“Hello, darling. Sorry about that. Sorry about the bony elbows, sorry we lived here, sorry about the scene at the bottom of the stairwell and how I ruined everything by saying it out loud. Especially that, but I should have known. 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.”
“The way you slam your body into mine reminds me I’m alive, but monsters are always hungry, darling, and they’re only a few steps behind you, finding the flaw, the poor weld, the place where we weren’t stitched up quite right, the place they could almost slip right into through if the skin wasn’t trying to keep them out, to keep them here, on the other side of the theater where the curtain keeps rising. I crawled out the window and ran into the woods. I had to make up all the words myself. The way they taste, the way they sound in the air. I passed through the narrow gate, stumbled in, stumbled around for a while, and stumbled back out. I made this place for you. A place for to love me. If this isn’t a kingdom then I don’t know what is.”
“This is my favorite part. It starts and ends here. The pebbles shine, the plan worked, Hansel Triumphant. Lesson number one: be sneaky and have a plan. But the stupid boy goes back, makes the rest of the story postscript and aftermath. He shouldn’t have gone back. And this is the second lesson I took from the story: when someone is trying to ditch you, kill you, never go back.”
“I sleep. I dream. I make up things that I would never say. I say them very quietly.”
“I had a dream about you. We were in the gold roomwhere everyone finally gets what they want.You said Tell me about your books, your visions madeof flesh and light and I said This is the Moon. This isthe Sun. Let me name the stars for you. Let me take youthere. The splash of my tongue melting you like a sugarcube…We were in the gold room where everyonefinally gets what they want, so I said What do youwant, sweetheart? and you said Kiss me. Here I amleaving you clues. I am singing now while Romeburns. We are all just trying to be holy. My applejack,my silent night, just mash your lips against me.We are all going forward. None of us are going back.”
“I wanted to hurt youbut the victory is that I could not stomach it. We haveswallowed him up, they said. It’s beautiful. It really is.I had a dream about you. We were in the gold roomwhere everyone finally gets what they want.You said Tell me about your books, your visions madeof flesh and light and I said This is the Moon. This isthe Sun. Let me name the stars for you. Let me take youthere. The splash of my tongue melting you like a sugarcube… We were in the gold room where everyonefinally gets what they want, so I said What do youwant, sweetheart? and you said Kiss me. Here I amleaving you clues. I am singing now while Romeburns. We are all just trying to be holy. My applejack,my silent night, just mash your lips against me.We are all going forward. None of us are going back.”