69. Need and Desire

I have a friend who just bought a new house, and is fretting over buying the very best, environmentally friendly and safe paint to cover over the awful colors left on the walls. I'm also, I think, about to get some new phones for milady and me, and I'm wondering whether or not to make the jump into the 21st century and get superphones. Tonight's sonnet is for us.

If only it was this simple

Oh, what to do when cost and need collide?

And things get worse when one includes desire.

A smart course doesn't count if Want's denied,

and cool heads don't prevail in passion's fire.

A perfect house for sale, and you the buyer.

The rooms are painted awful, tint and tone;

expensive paint you buy, and painters hire

despite the way it makes your budget groan.

Or if you go to buy a brand new phone

and, staring at the shelves of magic bricks,

you go for one that need cannot condone

and give into desire for lights and tricks.

While need and cost inform what we must do

our cravings dictate more what we accrue.

   This has little to do with the poem, but it is the most delightful cover of the Misfits ever there was.