i like my body when it is with your
body.  It is so quite new a thing.
Muscles better and nerves more.
i like your body.  i like what it does,
i like its hows.  i like to feel the spine
of your body and its bones, and the trembling
-firm-smooth ness and which i will
again and again and again
kiss,  i like kissing this and that of you,
i like, slowly stroking the, shocking fuzz
of your electric fur, and what-is-it comes
over parting flesh* And eyes big love-crumbs,

and possibly i like the thrill

of under me you so quite new

e e cummings

simone, smiling

the naked ape: the pre-copulatory phase (ou de como o amor é bonito - parte II)

Much of this pair-formation phase may take place in public, but when it passes over to the pre-copulatory phase, privacy is sought and the subsequent patterns of behaviour are performed in isolation from other members of the species as far as possible. With the pre-copulatory stage there is a striking increase in the adoption of a horizontal posture. Body-to-body contacts are increased in both force and duration. Low-intensity side-by-side postures repeatedly give way to high-intensity face-to-face contacts. These positions may be maintained for many minutes and even for several hours, during which vocal and visual signals become gradually less important and tactile signals increasingly frequent. These involve small movements and varying pressures from all parts of the body, but in particular from the fingers, hands, lips and tongue. Clothing is partially or totally removed and skin-to-skin tactile stimulation is increased over as wide as possible.

desmond morris, the naked ape, corgi, 1969

to cry by yourself on the upper deck of a jam-packed bus

is an obvious sign you're in need to go swimming.

the naked ape: on pair formation (ou de como o amor é bonito - parte I)

To begin with we must establish precisely how the naked ape does behave today when indulging in sexual behaviour. This is not as easy as it sounds, because of the great variability that exists, both between and within societies. [...] Sexual behaviour in our species goes through three characteristic phases: pair-formation, pre-copulatory activity and copulation, usually but not always in that order. The pair-formation stage, usually referred to as courtship, is remarkably prolonged by animal standards, frequently lasting for weeks or even months. As with many other species it is characterised by tentative, ambivalent behaviour involving conflicts between fear, aggression and sexual attraction. The nervousness and hesitancy is slowly reduced if the mutual sexual signs are strong enough. These involve complex facial expressions, body postures and vocalisations. The latter involve the highly specialised and symbolised sound signals of speech, but equally important they present to the member of the opposite sex a distinctive vocalisation tone. A courting couple is often referred to as 'murmuring sweet nothings' and this phrase sums up clearly the significance of the tone of voice opposed to that of being spoken.

After the initial stages of visual and vocal display, simple body contacts are made. These usually accompany locomotion, which is now considerably increased when the pair are together. Hand-to-hand and arm-to-arm contacts are followed by mouth-to-mouth ones. Mutual embracing occurs, both statically and during locomotion. Sudden spontaneous outbursts of running, chasing, jumping and dancing are commonly seen and juvenile play patterns may reappear.

desmond morris, the naked ape, corgi, 1969

i may have found my second favourite bookshop in london

august is a wicked month, edna o'brien, penguin, 1967

the summer before the dark, doris lessing, penguin, 1975

jerusalem the golden, margaret drabble, penguin, 1969

a summer bird-cage, margaret drabble, penguin, 1967

memórias de adriano, marguerite yourcenar, ulisseia, 1986

discurso sobre o filho da puta, alberto pimenta, regra do jogo, 1981