But I believed in starting over. There was finally, I knew, only rupture and hurt and falling short between all persons, but, Shirley, the best revenge was to turn your life into a small gathering of miracles. If I could not be anchored and profound, I would try, at least, to be kind.

I feared Sarah was one of those women who instead of laughing said, "That's funny," or instead of smiling said, "That's interesting," or instead of saying, "You are a stupid blithering idiot," said, "Well I think it's a little more complicated than that.

There seemed nothing so true as a yellow tree.

You chose love like a belief, a faith, a place, a box for one's heart to knock against like a spook in the house.

I always had the sense with her that she didn't suffer fools gladly but that life was taking great pains to show her how.

If one publishes, then one is creating a public record of Learning to Write.

I don't care if I'm a fish, I still want a bicycle.