"Most of the times you don't really hear it. A pulse is a thing you feel. Even if you are somewhat quiet. Sometimes you hear it through a pillow at night. But I know that there is a place where you can hear it even better than that.

Here is what you do. You ease yourself into a tub of water, you ease yourself down. You lie back and wait for the ripples to smooth away. Then you take a deep breath, and slide your head under, and listen for the playfulness of your heart."

-Amy Hempel,

"the Tub."