When we are young we do not look into mirrors. It is when we are old, concerned with our name, our legend, what our lives will mean to the future. We become vain with the names we own, our claims to have been the first eyes, the strongest army, the cleverest merchant. It is when he is old that Narcissus wants a graven image of himself.

Some events take a lifetime to reveal their damage and influence.

He turns his back to the far shore and rows toward it. He can in this way travel away from, yet still see, his house....he feels he is riding a floating skeleton...Some birds in the almost-dark are flying as close to their reflections as possible.

Jung was absolutely right about one thing. We are occupied by gods. The mistake is to identify with the god occupying you.

she had a laugh that hinted it had rolled around once or twice in the mud.

A writer uses a pen instead of a scalpel or blow torch.

We own the country we grow up in, or we are aliens and invaders.