In Denis Johnson's "Jesus' Son," the speaker reflects on a profound and unsettling encounter with a person who embodies a stark contrast to the observers' feelings of stagnation and loneliness. The phrase captures the dynamic between the observers, who feel like "old maids," suggesting a sense of unfulfilled longing or missed opportunities in life, while the individual they watch seems to embrace a fatalistic allure, being described as "the bride of Death." This imagery evokes a tension between life and mortality.

This evocative comparison reminds the reader of the haunting nature of existence and the different ways people relate to life and death. The onlookers are left with a sense of yearning and introspection, confronting their own fears and societal expectations against the backdrop of the unexpected vitality that death represents for the other character. It paints a vivid picture of a moment filled with emotional complexity, raising questions about destiny, acceptance, and the human condition.