Eroticism,
it may be said, is assenting to life up to the point of death… Sexual reproductive activity is common to sexual animals and humankind, but only humankind appear to have turned their sexual activity into erotic activity.
Eroticism is assenting to life even in death.

[A] gulf exists, for instance,
between you, listening to me, and me speaking to you.
We are attempting to communicate,
but no communication between us can abolish
our fundamental difference.
If you die, it is not my death.
You and I are discontinuous beings.

But I cannot refer to this gulf which separates us
without feeling this is not the whole truth of the matter.
It is a deep gulf, and I do not see how it can be done away with.
None the less,
we can experience its dizziness together.
It can hypnotize us.
The gulf is death in one sense,
and death is vertiginous, death is hypnotizing.

…that for us, discontinuous beings that we are,
death means continuity of being.
By discussing reproduction and death,…
both of these concepts are equally fascinating.

This fascination is the dominant element in eroticism.

–excerpts Eroticism, Introduction by Georges Bataille, London 1987

And the song for today…  This gets at the truth of the matter.  Nine minutes long and worth every minute.

November Rain

By Guns N’ Roses

When I look into your eyes
I can see a love restrained
But, darlin’, when I hold you
Don’t you know I feel the same? Yeah

‘Cause nothing lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it’s hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain

We’ve been through this such a long, long time
Just tryna kill the pain, ooh yeah
But lovers always come and lovers always go
And no one’s really sure who’s lettin’ go today, walkin’ away
If we could take the time to lay it on the line
I could rest my head, just knowin’ that you were mine, all mine

So, if you want to love me
Then, darlin’, don’t refrain
Or I’ll just end up walkin’
In the cold November rain

Do you need some time on your own?
Do you need some time all alone?
Ooh, everybody needs some time on their own
Ooh, don’t you know you need some time all alone?

I know it’s hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn’t time be out to charm you, whoa-whoa

Sometimes, I need some time on my own
Sometimes, I need some time all alone
Ooh, everybody needs some time on their own
Ooh, don’t you know you need some time all alone?

And when your fears subside
And shadows still remain, ooh yeah
I know that you can love me
When there’s no one left to blame

So, never mind the darkness
We still can find a way
‘Cause nothin’ lasts forever
Even cold November rain

Don’t ya think that you need somebody?
Don’t ya think that you need someone?
Everybody needs somebody
You’re not the only one, you’re not the only one
Don’t ya think that you need somebody?
Don’t ya think that you need someone?
Everybody needs somebody
You’re not the only one, you’re not the only one
Don’t ya think that you need somebody?
Don’t ya think that you need someone?
Everybody needs somebody
You’re not the only one, you’re not the only one
Don’t ya think that you need somebody?
Don’t ya think that you need someone?
Everybody needs somebody