Catullus

After having read some of the Roman Catullus’s poems, one stood out to me.  Found on page 798-799 titled “Poor damned Catullus here’s no time for nonsense.”  After having to read it a few times to make understanding out of it, I find it a very interesting poem. 

It starts out, as I interpret it that Catullus is analyzing an event that took place in his life.  In the first few lines he is calling himself to see things clearly, and for how they really are (sometimes hard to do when women are involved in your life). 

In the next few lines specifically in 6-7 we find an important part of the poem’s story.  This is the cause of Catullus’s poem, he has had sex with a girl, attached to the girl, but “now she’s no longer yielding.”  Pretty much as I see it, she has dumped him.

In the next few lines we find Catullus trying to motivate himself, and to build himself up, trying to let her go.  Also in lines 14+ the point of view may switch.  At first it appears that Catullus is addressing himself, and then he switches to anger and addresses the female.  In the words “you whore! Where’s your man to cling to…” (I find it interesting that when a women dumps a man, even back in the Roman Era, it comes natural to call here a whore.)

The last line of the poem, I believe we get some major Irony going.  It says “But always, your Catullus will be as firm as rock is” Catullus is trying to fool the girl, and possibly himself with this statement.  From the text we can conclude that Catullus is not firm as a rock, that he is quite the opposite, he is unstable and is trying to cope with an emotional break up.

I think Catullus captured some emotions that go along with a break up. I  find it interesting that poetry written so long ago can apply in our lives today.