“The moment when the finished book or, better yet, a tightly packed carton of finished books arrives on my doorstep is the moment of truth, of culmination; its bliss lasts as much as five minutes, until the first typographical error or production flaw is noticed.” FirstsBookMomentsLastsFiveMinutesErrorsProductionsFinishedBlissFlawsFive MinutesDoorstepCulminationMoment Of Truth Book:More Matter: Essays And Criticism Source: More Matter: Essays And Criticism
“This was middle school, the age of miracles, the time when kids shot up three inches over the summer, when breasts bloomed from nothing, when voices dipped and dove. Our first flaws were emerging, but they were being corrected. Blurry vision could be fixed invisibly with the magic of the contact lens. Crooked teeth were pulled straight with braces. Spotty skin could be chemically cleared. Some girls were turning beautiful. A few boys were growing tall.” FirstsKidsAgeSchoolBeautifulGirlThreeVoiceVisionBoysGrowingMagicMiddleSummerShotsSkinsMiracleTeethContactFixedBreastsFlawsTallInchesLensesEmergingDoveCrookedMiddle SchoolBracesBlurryContact LensesCrooked Teeth Book:The Age of Miracles Source: The Age of Miracles
“Thou spring'st a leak already in thy crown, A flaw is in thy ill-bak'd vessel found; 'Tis hollow, and returns a jarring sound, Yet thy moist clay is pliant to command, Unwrought, and easy to the potter's hand: Now take the mould; now bend thy mind to feel The first sharp motions of the forming wheel.” FeelsMindFirstsHandsFoundEasySoundReturnSpringIllCommandWheelsFlawsCrownsClayVesselHollowPottersLeaksMouldPottery Book:Poetical Works: With a Memoir Source: Poetical Works: With a Memoir