I was standing outside myself trying to stop those hangings with ghost fingers... I am a ghost wanting what every ghost wants-a body-after the Long Time moving through odorless alleys of space where no life is, only the colorless no smell of death...Nobody can breath and smell it through pink convolutions of gristle laced with crystal snot, time shit and black blood filters of flesh.
In this excerpt from William S. Burrough's "Naked Lunch," the narrator expresses feelings of detachment and desperation, likening himself to a ghost trying to intervene in a tragic event. This imagery of ghostly fingers suggests a longing for connection and influence, while also highlighting his sense of powerlessness in a world permeated by death and decay. The haunting nature of the scene evokes a strong awareness of mortality and the struggle for existence.
The description of the surroundings illustrates a bleak and surreal reality, dominated by lifelessness and grotesque sensations. The use of visceral details, like "crystal snot" and "black blood," conveys a strong distaste for the physical world and a yearning for vitality. Overall, the passage encapsulates themes of isolation, the desire for a tangible existence, and the haunting memories of a past life, producing a chilling effect on the reader.
