This poem is taken from PN Review 290, Volume 52 Number 6, July - August 2026.
Callimachus Versions
Epigram 1
Pittacus the Sage,
Once the bookies’ choice
For mortal combat, gave
Free advice about women.
‘Sir, I’m seeing two girls.
Which should I marry – my equal
Or the rich one?’
The Sage
Waved his crutch at the contraflow:
‘Read that sign.’
‘Stay in lane, sir.
Thanks. I’ll take the poor one.’
No one asked what the girls thought
Stuck on the hard shoulder.
Epigram 14
‘The foreseeable future’ – silly words.
You here yesterday, named Joy.
Now fresh earth. Our spring of tears.
Your father’s loss
...
Pittacus the Sage,
Once the bookies’ choice
For mortal combat, gave
Free advice about women.
‘Sir, I’m seeing two girls.
Which should I marry – my equal
Or the rich one?’
The Sage
Waved his crutch at the contraflow:
‘Read that sign.’
‘Stay in lane, sir.
Thanks. I’ll take the poor one.’
No one asked what the girls thought
Stuck on the hard shoulder.
Epigram 14
‘The foreseeable future’ – silly words.
You here yesterday, named Joy.
Now fresh earth. Our spring of tears.
Your father’s loss
...
The page you have requested is restricted to subscribers only. Please enter your username and password and click on 'Continue'. Please ensure that you enter your username and password exactly as you specified them, including any capital letters. Your username is not your email address:
If you have forgotten your username and password, please enter the email address you used when you joined. Your login details will then be emailed to the address specified.
If you are not a subscriber and would like to enjoy the 296 issues containing over 11,800 poems, articles, reports, interviews and reviews,
why not subscribe to the website today?