. . . and today I will be on my hands and knees fruitlessly attempting to scrub the smell of stale dog urine out of a broad tract of 1970s-era wall-to-wall (formerly shag) brown carpeting. Such is the life of the Poet.

***

acting of
ambitions of
anger and rages of
anxiety of
appearance of
appendectomy of
awards and honors of
baby-sitting jobs of
birthdays of
birth of
book offers of
at camp
childhood of
clothes of
confidence of
controlling behavior of
copyright of
dating of

        --from the index of Rough Magic: A Biography of Sylvia Plath, by Paul Alexander

***

I know there are no people on Mars, because I know Mars is a frozen body. Mars was like the Earth, but many billions of years ago. The earth will also be like Mars, but in several hundred years' time. I feel that the Earth is suffocating, and therefore I ask everyone to abandon factories and obey me. I know what is needed for the salvation of the earth. I know how to light a stove and will therefore be able to light up the earth.

        --Vaslav Nijinksy, from a diary entry, February 27, 1919

***

"Ach Gott, what disgusting work to do!--but the destroying of bugs cannot be delegated."

        --Jane Welsh Carlyle, from a letter to Thomas Carlyle, August 18, 1843