“Racism, specifically, is the state-sanctioned or extralegal production and exploitation of group-differentiated vulnerability to premature death.”

“Without the sanction of societyWithout the sanction of the churchWithout the sanction of GodI love you.”

“If the creek predates the city deep in time, then is it right to identify the creek solely with the city? The city has forgotten the creek, as it's forgotten those who walk its side, but the creek didn't need to be known all that long time before the city ever was. Maybe now Hogan's Creek is too steeped in history to claim an independence grounded in prehistory, because the city has too deeply poisoned it for far too long. Then again, there was all that time the creek flowed and had no name. Without a name you belong solely to yourself.”

“Most human beings come into the world and leave it with nothing to show they ever lived.”

“Throughout the narrative you will find many statements that are obviously nonsensical and quite at variance with common sense. For the most part these are true.”

“Does the Sower feed the taleOr the tale feed the Sower?”

“Sometimes it is given to us. One moment of clarity. One word laid down, cold and clattering, beside another. Ribbon of wet stone.”