When the Sun Was Done Muttering, in an Optimistic Way, It Was Time to Leave That There

Perversely, what gives me optimism we might survive as a species is as shitty as we are we haven't killed each other by now:

An Israeli report concerning the country's blockade of the Gaza Strip and a May 2010 raid on a Gaza-bound ship proves Israel is a law-abiding nation, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Sunday.

Remember that, how OUTRAGED! you were.... what? .... whoever the motherfucking coach of the Chicago Bears is should be fired this morning? I don't watch a lot of helmetball, but I used to, I know a little about helmetball, and third string quarterback or no, 1:54 left in Packer territory and what the fuck? Also, metaphor.

• A conversation with Derrick Jensen.
• Free market capitalism!
• A Super Bowl spot for Uncle Sam.
• United we brand.
• Historic amnesia.
• Obviously.
• Jeebusfuckingchrist: On Tuesday, President Obama will deliver his State of the Union address. By any measure, it will be a defining moment. The speech will either usher in the second half of a one term presidency wracked by partisanship and increasingly lambasted by its own base for losing control of the debate to a re-energized conservatism; or it will presage political rebirth, a reconnection with voters, and the beginning of a successful re-election campaign. Yes it won't. No it will.
• Alternative universe. 
• UPDATE! When asshats clash!
• Marco Rubio, ambitious opportunist.
• Motherfucking crackers.
• Macaca redux.
• DC's heart of darkness.
• As I type this it's Monday morning rush, the Beltway is closed for a water main break, the Red Line is fucked because of a cracked rail.
• Frederick's most wanted. 
• Currently on Mt Washington.
• I made it 150 pages before quitting.
• Three Heaney poems.
• Iggymoticons.
• Darkblack's Sunday Overnight. 
• UPDATE! Drive-by shootings.
• Sonic Youth mixtape. 
• I locked the door.
• You'll want to bookmark this.
• Bleached Beach.

THE NEW HIGHER

John Ashbery

You meant more than life to me. I lived through
you not knowing, not knowing I was living.
I learned that you called for me. I came to where
you were living, up a stair. There was no one there.
No one to appreciate me. The legality of it
upset a chair. Many times to celebrate
we were called together and where
we had been there was nothing there,
nothing that is anywhere. We passed obliquely,
leaving no stare. When the sun was done muttering,
in an optimistic way, it was time to leave that there.

Blithely passing in and out of where, blushing shyly
at the tag on the overcoat near the window where
the outside crept away, I put aside the there and now.
Now it was time to stumble anew,
blacking out when time came in the window.
There was not much of it left.
I laughed and put my hands shyly
across your eyes. Can you see now?
Yes I can see I am only in the where
where the blossoming stream takes off, under your window.
Go presently you said. Go from my window.
I am in love with your window I cannot undermine
it, I said.