Grief: Key Quotes

“Grief” Key Quotes

Emotional Turmoil:

“You have not grown old and I miss you.” This quote poignantly depicts longing, a key aspect of grief. The speaker feels a void due to their loved one’s untimely death.
“I can picture you, the way you used to look.” Illustrates the act of holding onto past memories, symbolising separation anxiety and loss.

Temporal Reality of Grief:

“Every morning I wake to absence, the day bright but wrong.” Here, Duffy showcases the persistent nature of grief, highlighting how each day is marked by ongoing loss and anguish.
“The years pass me still counting.” This line further emphasises the timelessness of grief and the unceasing sorrow associated with it.

Yearning and Loss:

“The house is quiet. When you died, you left silence behind you.” Explores the tangible emptiness left in the wake of a loved one’s absence, voicing the silence of loneliness and desolation in grief.

Metaphysical Imagery of Grief:

“Grief, I can tell, will be with me for a long life.” Considers grief as a prolonged presence, often personifying it as an unwanted companion.
“There are days when I hear your voice.” The echo of the departed loved one, suggesting the inescapable hold of grief and the yearning for reunion.

Grief’s Physical Manifestations:

“My twin, my sister, sweet dead girl, the mirror is empty of your face.” Reflects the intense personal loss and its tangible impact. The speaker has lost a part of their perceived identity.

Coping Mechanisms:

“Each day, I suffer with and survive you.” Portrays the dual nature of coming to terms with grief where both suffering and survival occur simultaneously – a poignant representation of resilience amidst grief.

Each of these quotations from “Grief” brings to light different aspects of dealing with loss. It is essential to understand and analyse these quotes in context to fully appreciate the depth and complexity of Duffy’s portrayal of grief.