Who really said it
These are the opening words of Octavia E. Butler’s Kindred (1979), spoken by its fictional narrator Dana. They do not describe an injury to Butler herself.
Last verified 9 Nov 2026 · how we verify · spot an error?
For presentations
Verified quote & credit
“I lost an arm on my last trip home. My left arm” Octavia E. Butler, Kindred (1979), prologue; words of the fictional narrator Dana.
Can you use it?
Still under copyright. A short, credited quote is generally fine for talks, teaching, and internal decks; for commercial, published, or large-scale reuse, get permission.
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In context
Evoking the world of Octavia E. Butler — Speculative-fiction writer. Theme: "I lost an arm on my last trip home. My left arm". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Minimalist
Minimalist editorial slide for the quote "I lost an arm on my last trip home. My left arm". Clean background, a single muted accent color, generous negative space, subtle paper or linen texture, no literal illustration — let the words carry it. Reserve clear space for a serif quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Provenance
I lost an arm on my last trip home. My left arm.
Prologue textHow we verified this
The 1979 novel is copyrighted. Only the short opening is reproduced for identification and discussion.
Rights status is our research, not legal advice — and copyright varies by country and edition. For commercial or published use, confirm with the rightsholder. See terms.
Context
The prologue reveals Dana’s injury before readers learn how it happened. That opening turns the story into a question about what returning from the slaveholding past costs her, giving physical consequences to a time-travel narrative.
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Reproduction attributed to the Beacon Press 1988 edition begins with both exact sentences.
Beacon guide identifies Dana, Kevin and the novel’s time-travel encounters with slavery.
Sourced novel section identifies the sentence as the beginning of the prologue.
Biographical reference records her novels, awards and 1995 MacArthur fellowship.
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The author
For writers & researchers
Butler, Octavia E. Kindred. 1979, opening of prologue. Text checked in a reproduction identifying Beacon Press’s 1988 edition.
Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘I lost an arm on my last trip home. My left arm’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/i-lost-an-arm-on-my-last-trip-home-my-left-arm/