Wants by Philip Larkin

Beyond all this, the wish to be alone:
However the sky grows dark with invitation-cards
However we follow the printed directions of sex
However the family is photographed under the flagstaff—
Beyond all this, the wish to be alone.

Beneath it all, desire of oblivion runs:
Despite the artful tensions of the calendar,
The life insurance, the tabled fertility rites,
The costly aversion of the eyes from death—
Beneath it all, desire of oblivion runs.





[I've probably posted this before. I just love it. Love it to death.]

Status report

Americana: finished
Vineland: finished
The House on Mango Street: finished
Intelligence reframed: finished (in a blur, don't remember much)
Universal Baseball Association: half finished (ETA Sunday)
Bodega Dreams: started (ETA next week)
Go Ask Alice: half finished (ETA tonight)
In Cold Blood: not started (ETA Wednesday)
School and Society: one-quarter finished (text book; ETA late April)
Weight: 211 pounds
Salsa dancing: Wednesdays, biweekly
Love: absent
Student loan status: pain in the ass
Motorcycle: in the garage, finally, post $3800 wipe-out; doctor advises no more riding until I'm off the meds
California: possible trip this summer
Little Brother: weird; uncommunicative
Ghost Rider: Better than Dare Devil; Worse than Spider-Man
Friday: no classes
Casual sex: cancelled indefinitely
Staples: better than Office Max
Office Max: hotter employees than Staples
Bowling: coupon for one free game at Centereach Lanes/AMF
Apple iMac "hockey puck" mouse: better than many defective Kensington mouse and trackball products
Howl's Moving Castle: 119 min
Harlem Globetrotters: Yes
Electric Six: Dance Commander
Tonight's homework: printed

Update: Go As Alice: finished; Universal Baseball Association: finished