The Kestrel Waters Quotes

“If you got the devil to pay, he'll want extra red-eye on his biscuit. He always do.”
― Randy Thornhorn, The Kestrel Waters : A Tale of Love and Devil

“Potential enemies make the best friends and lovers. Many a blessed union begins in adversity.”
― Randy Thornhorn, The Kestrel Waters

“Dead roses. Their fresh bouquet, once lost, was worse than the stench of fish or a carny.”
― Randy Thornhorn, The Kestrel Waters: A Tale of Love and Devil

“We're all psalm singers. And everybody's got two psalms in them. That song they sing out loud, for others to hear. And the song they sing only to themselves.”
― Randy Thornhorn, The Kestrel Waters: A Tale of Love and Devil

“You got a gun?” Glenn got sheepish. “Well, yeah, I do. Daddy bought it for me.” “That's right,” Daddy said at Kes. “I bought him a .38 Special when I had to leave you all unprotected out there at that Angelsprey after our peeping Lych come around. I figured I'd leave a gun with my prodigal that weren't the one that was so hotheaded. Why? You want one? Okay. I'll buy you one. I'll buy you a biggun. Take it on your honeymoon.” “No,” Kes said glumly, his eyes off in thin air. “I don't like guns.” “As you will, son.” “I want me a knife. A fancy stiletto sticker like that one you got.” Daddy smiled easier. “You got it.”
― Randy Thornhorn, The Kestrel Waters: A Tale of Love and Devil

“From too much love of living, from hope and fear set free, we thank with brief thanksgiving, whatever gods may be. That no life lives forever, that dead men rise up never, that even the weariest river, winds somewhere safe to sea." She was impressed. “I didn't know you was a s-singer too. Did you pencil that down or just make it up right here?” “That's poem, not song.” “Same thing. Where I'm from.”
― Randy Thornhorn, The Kestrel Waters: A Tale of Love and Devil

“Take a good looksee, little gal,” Daddy said. “Gale wind and gullywashers all afternoon. Old Cedarweed Drive here was the river of no return. And now she’s just a glitter slick in the dark. The last of the glass with no more bottle.” “You're right f-funny, Mr. Brass,” Bettilia said, her hand on the arm of his chair. She felt safer, standing this close to him. “I'm jist Daddy Brass around here. Don't call me mister unless you come with a court order.”
― Randy Thornhorn, The Kestrel Waters: A Tale of Love and Devil

“Nobody asked many questions at first, they could see Kes was hurting too much. Daddy Brass drove them back to the island and carried his eldest son up the stairs by himself, despite Kes's heavy casts. Daddy Brass laid Kes gently on his old schoolboy bed. “You lucky that head lick didn't knock out the last of your brains,” Daddy told him. “Doc said it was just a mild concussion,” said Kes. “Too bad. I always wanted me an idiot kid for a conversation piece over to the Pickalilly Club. You know? A kid to catch Palmetto bugs and crack em. Suck their heads. Help keep my storehouse clean.”
― Randy Thornhorn, The Kestrel Waters: A Tale of Love and Devil

“Georgiana did not like or approve of their high oak haven, but she bore it. And, in return, the tree bore her fruit. It was from the high perch of that treehouse that Georgiana first heard her sons sing a psalm in a natural, unforced brotherly harmony. Little birdie, little birdie, what makes you fly so high?  It's because I'm a true bird, and do not fear to die— Kes had often sung little songs to himself as he toddled around the place, but she had never before heard their voices entwined in such pure and sacred communion. Georgiana would never forget that first childsong. Little birdie, little birdie, come and sing me a song,  I'm a short time to be here and a long time to be gone—”
― Randy Thornhorn, The Kestrel Waters: A Tale of Love and Devil

“I understand your husband has arranged a significant new donation to the school's stock of instruments.” “Sir, you may refer to that man as Kestrel’s father or Glenn's father or as Mr. Brass or by his Christian name if you see fit. He will answer to any number of hillbilly vulgarisms routinely voiced by his unsavory rabble of friends. But please never again refer to him as my husband.”
― Randy Thornhorn, The Kestrel Waters: A Tale of Love and Devil

“They were such different ways to love. One love kept moving, like this night train, moving, while the other love stayed rooted in place, rooted like a tree standing by the water. If Kes and her sweet memory had a son, yes, he would sit that brother down and tell him. Spend your love inside a true bird as long as she is no split-tail virgin up a tree. You will thank her for her favor even if forever and a day you be damned. Yes, you must love a girl like that forever. You will never let her go. A kiss like hers will carry you up the highest, darkest tree then down again.”
― Randy Thornhorn, The Kestrel Waters: A Tale of Love and Devil

“Well, my daddy always said,” Daddy Brass said, “even a blind hog will find an acorn somewheres.”
― Randy Thornhorn, The Kestrel Waters: A Tale of Love and Devil

“Elvis wanting to play house with his sex and swagger scared the pee-waddin out Mama George, as Glenn would one day say.”
― Randy Thornhorn, The Kestrel Waters: A Tale of Love and Devil

“Out my grievous window wander orphans unseen…”
― Randy Thornhorn, The Kestrel Waters : A Tale of Love and Devil