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Quote by Ted Hughes

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Birthday letters

A poignant collection of poetry that delves into the complexities of relationships and the passage of time, Birthday Letters is a tribute to the enduring bond between a mother and her son. The poems reflect on personal experiences and emotions, offering a deeply moving portrayal of the human condition. more

Author

Ted Hughes
Ted Hughes

Ted Hughes was a renowned British poet, born on August 17, 1930, and passed away on October 28, 1998. His poetry is known for its unique style and profound emotional expression, and he is considered one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. more

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“As children, we look to adults to be perfect and say the right thing. Mama Taaq, face streaked grey from dust and tears, should have replied to her shivering, shuddering child: “You did everything right, my darling. You did everything you could and none of this is your fault. Later she would say those words, but later was too late, because that night all she did was cry and turn away from her still-living daughter to try and find her dead one. These things are entirely natural and understandable – just not to a child.”

“I know you want her to be alive--you feel like you need her to carry on. But the body in the coffin is just that: a body, the shell of the person you love. The essence of Mrs. Quince, the one you know and love, is all around us, in nature and the stars, in every recipe of hers that you cook, and deep inside your heart....No matter how many times we say that someone is dead, the fact is we simply can't imagine a world without them. [Audrey Landon, to Nell Brown]”

“The fear of an abrupt end to a beautiful thing one is used to, is another reason few see marriage is evil, they rather not get into. Infidelity, divorce and death are real 'robbers' of loved ones and they may come knocking on your door when you would have preferred they don't,”

“She certainly did not hate him. No; hatred had vanished long ago, and she had almost as long been ashamed of ever feeling a dislike against him, that could be so called. The respect created by the conviction of his valuable qualities, though at first unwillingly admitted, had for some time ceased to be repugnant to her feelings; and it was now heightened into somewhat of a friendlier nature, by the testimony so highly in his favour, and bringing forward his disposition in so amiable a light, which yesterday had produced. But above all, above respect and esteem, there was a motive within her of good will which could not be overlooked. It was gratitude.--Gratitude not merely for having once loved her, but for loving her still well enough, to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting him, and all the unjust accusations accompanying her rejection. He who, she had been persuaded, would avoid her as his greatest enemy, seemed, on this accidental meeting, most eager to preserve the acquaintance, and without any indelicate display of regard, or any peculiarity of manner, where their two selves only were concerned, was soliciting the good opinion of her friends, and bent on making her known to his sister. Such a change in a man of so much pride, excited not only astonishment but gratitude--for to love, ardent love, it must be attributed; and as such its impression on her was of a sort to be encouraged, as by no means unpleasing, though it could not exactly be defined.”