Trustees of Boston University

Three Poems: Horace, Translation and ImitationAuthor(s): Karl JohnsonSource: Arion, Third Series, Vol. 15, No. 2 (Fall, 2007), pp. 15-18Published by: Trustees of Boston UniversityStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/29737339 .

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Three Poems: Horace, Translation and Imitation

KARL JOHNSON

Winter Comes Early

(Odes 1.25)

Fewer nights now, after you've latched your windows, Shameless young males fling a barrage against them;

Boys who rob girls' sleep let you rest, unburgled. Door mates with doorframe,

Used to swing smooth-hinged in perpetual motion.

Less and less you're hearing now, "I'm your guyyy! Hey,

Lydiaaa! Long night, and out here I'm dying! How can you sleep, girl?"

Nasty turn: you'll grieve at these stallions' pride, your

Age and insignificance. Lonely alleys,

Nights of crazed north wind from the Balkan wild lands, Dark of the new moon?

You will keep on blazing for "passion, "pleasure," Call it that old driver-berserk of brood mares, Call it fierce rewounding of love's scar tissue,

Not without sorrow.

Youthful glee, males happily boyish . . . fact is,

They prefer girls verdantly fresh, bright Ivy,

Dusky-toned young Myrtle. They give dry leaves to

Winter's pal East Wind.

ARION I5.2 FALL 2OO7

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i6 THREE POEMS: HORACE, TRANSLATION AND IMITATION

Nikki the Quick

(See Epode 15)

Our three-mile walk downriver to Mount Vernon?

Chance to enjoy the last of fall, The terns and seagulls fishing the Potomac,

Late sun against Fort Washington's wall?

Remember? Off the path, that champion oak tree

(Can spot it from the Maryland shore) Where lovers swear the Oath of Good Intentions

(At least we know one couple swore).

Up twenty feet, scarlet Virginia creeper Was proving how young creepers climb.

But that oak's not for strangling?stoic hero

Has shrugged them off since George's time.

We lingered hours at the Inn, our first long dinner,

Agreed that "in love" described us both, Then started walking a dark three miles upriver;

Along the way we'd take the Oath.

Clear night, so late the half-moon slid toward Belvoir, Orion climbed the Maryland sky,

Before we came to that Tree of No Excuses

(Or so we named it, you and I). Most sacredly I swore my love, then wondered ,

"You total pagan, how do you swear?"

You laughed, "By the Monument and all Memorials!

By sacred relics of George's hair."

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Karl Johnson 17

The moon looked back, Orion stood and witnessed, A dog howled far away up-shore.

You tousled me, vined your slender arms around me, Pinned me against the tree and swore:

"As long as dogs howl 'moon!' or pester kittens, Breezes muss up your gorgeous hair,

Orion's east winds toss the sea and sailors?

Our love is mutual! Here's my share ..."

You kissed me, pressed me, promised me adventures.

You flipped this silent news to the Greats:

"Hey Martha, George, tall widower Tom, Abe, Jackie!

Quick Nikki vows and violates."

Winter, now spring ... I've bought tweed caps for a bald spot, Orion disappears in the west,

You've "met this guy" who trains his German shepherd To ignore the moon, let kittens rest.

Grief is a weed, I'm man enough to uproot it:

Will not look wounded, nor ask how long You've given him your nights of slender excitement,

Nor sing a blue don't-leave-me song.

For him, though, a laugh and a riddle: "Cute rich genius? You're just the next guy?take your turn!

She curls around you: a vine or river current?

Nikki won't give you long to learn."

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i8 THREE POEMS: HORACE, TRANSLATION AND IMITATION

Covenant

Dance of the Mercurial Lord

(See Odes i.io)

To worship me? No rallies, please.

Spanish guitar and jazz clarinet.

No rant. Let puns and riddles tease, Parables poke you, "Don't forget."

I steal. Debates, third base, a few hearts?

Quicksilver thief, not long-serene-hymned. I wangle. Teach you guys street smarts,

Dodging and wrestling lithe and lean-limbed.

You've yawned each time Prince Beef has bragged? Stick with me, kid, and conjugate "Amo."

Stay boyish, cowboy, when he's sagged, Lost his whole herd, run out of ammo.

King Trophy? Brute, mere tribal bonds?

His posse leaves sheer ruin behind, Abandons brainwork, mercy, and blondes.

Tutored by me, you'll cheat him blind.

I'll sort you out from death's uproar, Recommend (God cares) where you'd fit.

Such crowds need calming on that shore!

Many want Peace, our teams need Wit.

We'll disembark into fields of dawn?

Decent old park, you're sure to stay. You'll glom a patch of classic lawn,

Merge with Elysium's clever play.

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