An amorous banquet, a fresco in the ruins of Herculaneum (ca. 70 CE)
Almost All of the Poems of Catullus
I am tOld that he's bolder and revEAling.
Passions Old, but not colder, full of fEEling.
He's sExy and so pAssionate and bAwdy,
I'm blUshing at his wit and words, so nAUghty.
O, Lesbia, how did you spurn advances?
The ones he made left you with but few chances.
Did cupid's bow and arrow strike you truer?
Did you give in or run from your pursuer?
Did you love, were you charmed and attracted?
The little bird fulfilled until retracted?
My questions are most likely overbearing
I’m baffled at such tender-loving caring.
*
This counted meter is not very easy
My unaccustomed ears and mind, so queazy
I hope I will not write more mis-translations
So boring are the tame interpretations.
O, Jupiter, I just don't think I'm ready
To read this verse, my Latin so unsteady
But I shall perservere and try to conquer
My squeamishness so fears don't make me bonkers.
Why am I trYing hendEcesyllAbic?
I might as well wrIte Chinese or ArAbic
So, if you don't mInd, I will End this charade
For thEse kind of verses, I'm sImply not made.
***
Theo J. van Joolen©2012
