Danse Russe

If I when my wife is sleeping
and the baby and Kathleen
are sleeping
and the sun is a flame-white disc
in silken mists
above shining trees,--
if I in my north room
dance naked, grotesquely
before my mirror
waving my shirt round my head
and singing softly to myself:
"I am lonely, lonely.
I was born to be lonely,
I am best so!"
If I admire my arms, my face,
my shoulders, flanks, buttocks
again the yellow drawn shades,--

Who shall say I am not
the happy genius of my household?

—William Carlos Williams

Chapeau

The Atlantic's In Focus blog has two posts up of photos from the Tour de France that I can only describe as lush. Whatever your opinion of the competition, there are few sporting events that can hold a candle to the scenery of the TdF. Do you like bike racing? Do you like beautiful pictures? You won't regret clicking through.

Part I:

Part II: