The only thing that exists is torment, lyricism, and the magnificence of language. John C. Hawkes More Quotes by John C. Hawkes More Quotes From John C. Hawkes My father's parents were Irish. Only a year before my father died, he and I went back to Ireland for a week to look at the old homestead. John C. Hawkes parents back look father My mother wanted very much to play tennis; she wanted, most of all, to be a singer and play the piano. John C. Hawkes she singer mother play I remember my mother finding mud somehow and putting it on the sting. John C. Hawkes finding mud mother remember When we lived in Juneau, Alaska, it was a town of about 7,000 people, and totally isolated; the only way to get to it was by ship. John C. Hawkes ship only people way Really, I didn't like Alaska. It rained, almost every day, at least 300 days out of the year. John C. Hawkes every-day year day like I had to go to Sunday school once or twice in my life, and that's where I commented someplace on hearing. John C. Hawkes my-life sunday life school I was not typical. Whatever typical or normal is, I was somehow separated and different. John C. Hawkes somehow whatever normal different I want prose fiction to be recognized as that, and I'm not interested in writing as it becomes more personal. John C. Hawkes personal not-interested want writing On the night before we were married, all of the anxiety in the world came down upon me. John C. Hawkes me anxiety night world I didn't for a moment doubt the choice, but if life is ever fearsome, it is truly fearsome then. John C. Hawkes choice moment doubt life I didn't know what kind of jobs, because how was I prepared? At best, I would be an AB in English. John C. Hawkes english how best know In The Lime Twig I took two very young people and made them very old. John C. Hawkes old young two people As in The Lime Twig dream and illusion are right at the center of Charivari. John C. Hawkes center right illusion dream I do not feel an exile from America in any sense. John C. Hawkes sense any feel america I'm only interested in fiction that in some way or other voices the very imagination which is conceiving it. John C. Hawkes only some imagination way To be anywhere near an enormous ocean liner when you are just like a fish in the water is frightening. John C. Hawkes fish you ocean water It's hard to tell whether the ship or airplane - they're all the same, I'm convinced - is male or female; it may shift back and forth. John C. Hawkes ship back hard airplane I used to carry about with me a German map-case filled with poems. John C. Hawkes carry about me used When I started writing fiction, I knew how good it was immediately. John C. Hawkes how good writing fiction