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For Darwin fans (and, seriously, who isn’t?), here’s British poet, and Darwin’s great-great-granddaughter, Ruth Padel’s recasting of the the great man’s thoughts on whether to marry in verse:

THE BALANCE SHEET

Against

‘Freedom to go where I please. Conversation of clever men
at clubs. Choice of society: and little of it… No one to interfere
with solitude I need. Not forced to visit relatives or bend
in every trifle. Whoever she is might hate London!

Children are anxiety, responsibility, expense.
not so much money for books. There could be misrule
in the house. Quarrelling, even. Banished to country,
unable to read in the evening, becoming fat indolent fool.

Eheu! I should never know French, see America, go up
in a balloon! But – no children, no second life, no one to care
about me in old age. Why continue working all day with no
sympathy from near & dear?’ But who? Who would it be?

For

‘A constant companion and friend in old age.
an object to be loved and played with. Better than dog.
Children, if it please God. A home–
and someone to care for it. Female chat

good for one’s health. Charm of music, perhaps.
Terrible loss of my time–
but my God picture a whole life spent like a neuter bee
working in smoke and grime

of a London house all day alone!
Then think of a nice soft wife on a sofa, looking at me
with a good fire and books. Look at dingy
Gt. Marlbro’ St! Marry, marry, marry, Q.E.D.’

–from “Darwin, A Life in Poems” by Ruth Padel
(written by Charles Darwin, July 1838–all words except those not in quotes)