Nero's Term
Nero was not worried when he heard The prophecy of the Delphic Oracle. “Let him fear the seventy three years.” He still had ample time to enjoy himself. He is thirty. More than sufficient
Footsteps
On an ebony bed decorated With coral eagles, sound asleep lies Nero unconscious, quiet, and blissful; Thriving in the vigor of flesh, And in the splendid power of youth. But in the alabaster hall
Supplication
The sea took a sailor to its depths. His mother, unsuspecting, goes and lights A tall candle before the Virgin Mary For his speedy return and for fine weather And always she turns her
Anna Dalassené
In the golden bull that Alexios Comnenos issued To prominently honor his mother, The very sagacious Lady Anna Dalassené- Distinguished in her works, in her ways- There are many words of praise: Here let
Poseidonians
The Poseidonians forgot the Greek language After so many centuries of mingling With Tyrrhenians, Latins, and other foreigners. The only thing surviving from their ancestors Was a Greek festival, with beautiful rites, With lyres
Return
Return often and take me, Beloved sensation, return and take me When the memory of the body awakens, And an old desire runs again through the blood; When the lips and the skin remember,
Finalities
Amid fear and suspicions, With agitated mind and frightened eyes, We melt and plan how to act To avoid the certain Danger that so horribly threatens us. And yet we err, this was not
The God Abandons Antony
When suddenly, at midnight, you hear An invisible procession going by With exquisite music, voices, Don’t mourn your luck that’s failing now, Work gone wrong, your plans All proving deceptive don’t mourn them uselessly.
I Went
I did not restrain myself. I let go entirely and went. To the pleasures that were half real And half wheeling in my brain, I went into the lit night. And I drank of
Thermopylae
Honor to those who in the life they lead Define and guard a Thermopylae. Never betraying what is right, Consistent and just in all they do But showing pity also, and compassion; Generous when
Aemilianus Monae, Alexandrian, 628 – 655 A. D
With words, with countenance, and with manners I shall build an excellent panoply; And in this way I shall face evil men Without having any fear or weakness. They will want to harm me.
Caesarion
Partly to verify an era, Partly also to pass the time, Last night I picked up a collection Of Ptolemaic epigrams to read. The plentiful praises and flatteries For everyone are similar. They are
Morning Sea
Let me stop here. Let me, too, look at nature awhile. The brilliant blue of the morning sea, of the cloudless sky, The yellow shore; all lovely, All bathed in light. Let me stand
The Satrapy
What a misfortune, although you are made For fine and great works This unjust fate of yours always Denies you encouragement and success; That base customs should block you; And pettiness and indifference. And
Understanding
The years of my youth, my sensual life How clearly I see their meaning now. What needless repentances, how futile…. But I did not understand the meaning then. In the dissolute life of my