[Christine P'legion]

James, everything under my introductory sentence is pure Dorothy Sayers -- who did, as it happens, live in another century (Gaudy Night was published in the late 1930s and is set, if I remember correctly around 1932 or so). I don't think the final metaphor is about men only seeking love or doing it in a self-satisfied way, more about the peaceful relief of finally attaining a driving desire. At any rate, Sayers had no qualms about using the universal "man/men/he" and so we might equally read that "women" or "humans" seek for love. Your single friends may not be partnered but I'm willing to bet that each of them passionately loves something.

Clive, no, not surprised -- her Dante is magnificent (I've read it twice) and in fact she published one or two small volumes of poetry even before she started writing fiction. But I was struck with recognition today as I read this account of the writing process. The reminder that forcing a poem that isn't ready is just "mere verse-making" is a helpful one to me.