Greco-Roman Circle

For a Soldier who Died on Camera

(Catullus, Carmina LXV, "etsi me adsiduo defectam cura dolore...")

Brother, my verse calls me to work.
I am too dull with regret to midwife
verses for the Muses.  The foreign earth
lies heavy on you by that strange river.
I'll never meet you, now, to spend
an hour or two in some tavern to hear
your story of your war.  Out of regret,
unknown brother, I write for you
this paraphrase of Catullus to tell you
I held you in my mind beyond
the electron flicker of your dying.

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Updated last on:  2001/05/24