# Homecoming - Author: [Julia Alvarez](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez.md) - Quotes: 19 - Book page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming ## Quotes > Are we all with acute loneliness, > > chronic patients trying to recover > > the will to love? > > ...Sometimes the love > > of another wounded one acts like a salve > > which soothes the dying self but cannot heal > > our lives. And perhaps this is what it feels > > like to be human, and we are all well? [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/are-we-all.md) > I was driving down the mountain, the curves > > were bad, I wasn't going slow, the day > > was one of those that takes your breath away... > > On hilltops, I made believe I'd take off > > into the absolute, but as I swerved > > again and again... > > and as the sun's > > autumnal, soporific light shone on... > > something gave in me and I let go— > > this driving need to make it all mean more. > > In time, I turned the wheel back to the road. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/i-was-driving.md) > I'm watching a romantic play > > in Plato's cave; half the time I don't > > believe in it... > > Other times I'm so addicted I'm one of the mainliners... > > hallucinating that in truth a man's > > body is one of the Absolute Forms. > > I look around when the houselights come on > > and see no one! [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/im-watching-a-romantic.md) > It's UPS > > with two parcels! ... > > a handsome lad, guesses it's my birthday > > and asks how old I am. He acts surprised > > he's a decade younger. We linger at the door > > one of us is not immortal anymore. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/its-ups-with.md) > I say, Don't trust those men with better, > > bigger versions of love if they refuse > > the small, shabby sample they gave others > > the tribute of believing it was true. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/i-say-dont.md) > 33 is the year that Jesus Christ > > embraced His life... > > ...Wasn't he crucified at 33, > > I ask, depressed, deserted by his friends, > > divorced from god, subject to human laws? > > Wasn't he the most single finally > > at 33, meeting his lonely end? > > Yes... [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/33-is-the.md) > I tried to listen, take notes ... > > ...and stared out > > on the New England meadow straight from Frost: > > acres of grasses and flowers tossed by > > a wind which whirled with the continual > > roar of a thousand voices from Babel. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/i-tried-to-listen.md) > My gay friends ask, Well are you gay or what? [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/my-gay-friends.md) > I dreamed of stretching my pastry dough out > > to cover the earth with a crust so fine > > my love would think it was nothing > > but the world at his feet, > > baked by the summer sun, > > dusted with cinnamon. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/i-dreamed-of-stretching.md) > Gloved with two potholders, I listened > > while she told me not long ago > > a girl could not marry until she could roll > > her dough so transparent her beloved > > could read his Bible through it. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/gloved-with-two.md) > But my house, though protected > > with charms, can't block the spell mortality > > has cast... I turn thirty-three. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/but-my-house.md) > ...the furious whir of the Singer. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/the-furious-whir.md) > threading her needles, winding her threads; > > the spools sat in their rods in the sewing box, > > ends tucked in the notch on the flat tops, > > a palette of greens, laurel, mint, olive, aquamarine, > > shorts, skirts, blouses, dresses, and nightgowns— > > better than storebought. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/threading-her-needles.md) > I remember the whirr and whine of her black Singer, > > the gold traceries on the cast iron rod > > by the wheel that lifted and lowered the needle. > > Threading, eyepieces, winding the turquoise string > > through hooks, around miniscule wheels, up and down, > > her hands clever in labyrinths, > > ...the needle racing through gingham, poplin, seersucker, cambric, > > the pedal pressed heavily down with the weight of one woman, > > eye intent, hands feeding and receiving the fabric. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/i-remember-the.md) > ...the aunts stopped in in the middle of swallows, > > heads cocked... as if they had heard > > ...their own baby crying. > > It needed a pinch more of saffron? Paprika? [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/the-aunts-stopped.md) > The tarragon dotted the rice in the cauldron. > > And now, as if signaled, the spice jars popped open, > > unladened their far east wonders: > > cumin, turmeric, saffron, and endives. > > The aunts each put in a shake of their favorites. > > The steam unwrinkled their frowns from their faces. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/the-tarragon-dotted.md) > The uncles ate seconds and rose in a chorus > > ...empty plates glowed like the eyes of the spellbound. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/the-uncles-ate.md) > My friend Carol says aging evens out > > the advantage of beautiful women > > over plain ones. ... > > Where are the girls who were beautiful? [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/my-friend-carol.md) > The pies browned, the pastries puckered > > in the cavernous oven I waited to open. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/julia-alvarez/homecoming/the-pies-browned.md)