Annie

“I lifted my sword to Heaven then, to the diminished sun with the worm in his heart; and I called, "His life for mine, New Sun, by your anger and my hope!”
― Gene Wolfe, The Claw of the Conciliator

“Just as all that appears imperishable tends toward its own destruction, those moments that at the time seem the most fleeting recreate themselves—not only in my memory (which in the final accounting loses nothing) but in the throbbing of my heart and the prickling of my hair.”
― Gene Wolfe, The Shadow of the Torturer

“I fear you not,” said the creature hoarsely, to everyone’s utter astonishment. Then the creature held out a paw. Reynevan would have sprung back had he not been too afraid to move. He suddenly realised in astonishment that the paw was pointing at the arms on Zawisza’s shield. Then, to his even greater astonishment, the creature pointed at the cauldron with the herbal infusion.

“Sulima and a herbalist,” the creature croaked. “Rectitude and knowledge. What is there to fear? I fear not. My name is Hans Mein Igel.”

“Greetings to you, Hans Mein Igel. Be you hungry? Or thirsty?”

“No. It came to sit down. And listen. For it heard their words. And came to listen.”

“Please, be our guest.”

The creature approached the campfire, bristled up into a ball and stopped moving.

“Aaaye.” Zawisza’s composure was truly astonishing. “Where was I?”

“You were…” Reynevan swallowed, regaining his speech. “You were saying nec Hercules.”
― Andrzej Sapkowski, Narrenturm

“1058

Bloom—is Result—to meet a Flower
And casually glance
Would scarcely cause one to suspect
The minor Circumstance

Assisting in the Bright Affair
So intricately done
Then offered as a Butterfly
To the Meridian—

To pack the Bud—oppose the Worm—
Obtain its right of Dew—
Adjust the Heat—elude the Wind—
Escape the prowling Bee

Great Nature not to disappoint
Awaiting Her that Day—
To be a Flower, is profound
Responsibility—”
― Emily Dickinson