Co-Geeking

Woot! We made it! Hidden Youth has gotten funded! Thank you so much to everyone who contributed, spread the word, or expressed support over the past few weeks. I am so thrilled to be part of this anthology.

And now, as promised, I give you: The Top Five Greek and Latin Poems that Read Like Teenage Facebook Updates

5. #CRUSHINGSOHARDYOUCANTEVEN (Sappho, frag. 31)

He’s lucky as the gods,

any man who sits by you,

listening close to your

sweet voice

and lovely laugh. It just

makes my heart tremble in my chest.

When I glance at you, words

won’t come,

my tongue shatters, a thin

flame runs under my skin,

I can’t see,

my ears ring.

Sweat pours, I break out

trembling, I’m paler than a

flower. I could almost die.

But I can take it all…

 

4. #THATONEGUY (Horace, Satires 1.3.1-3)

The trouble with all these musical types is when you’re out with friends

and you beg them to sing, nothing will open their lips,

but when you don’t want them to sing they won’t shut up.

 

3. #DTMFA (Catullus, Poems 85)

I hate and I love. Maybe you wonder why I do this?

I don’t know, but I feel it happening and it’s torture.

 

2. #YOLO (Archilochus. Elegies frag. 232.8)

Aisimides, no one who listens to other people’s

criticisms ever gets to have a good time.

 

1. #BESTFRENEMIES (Martial, Epigrams 1.32)

I don’t like you, Sabidius, and I don’t know why.

All I know is: I don’t like you.

 

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