METRICAL HAIKU

NOTHING TO WRITE
One morning arriving at the classroom early I found that the “Inspiration Hat” had been mistaken for a wastebasket and emptied. We fished out the slips of inspiration from among the cream puff wrappers.

Cavete ne sit
quisquiliae subito
afflatus almae.

Be careful lest
the inspiration of our kind Muse
suddenly become garbage.

WHIRLING HAIKU
Bellus ferusque
torquit et exagitat
corpus comasque.

The beautiful, wild man
twists and shakes
his body and hair.

 

GOLDEN LINE

GOLDEN PASTURES, GOLDEN LINE
Mollia perveteres cingebant pascua olivas
Soft pastures fringed ancient olive trees.

 

EPIGRAM

CAMPAIGNING FOR THE MUSE
Commixtus breviter belleque exercitus Musae
   arma pedesque vibrans orat opemque petit.
Victo Erice immani ascensu pedites requiescunt
   emeritis reditus percalefactus erit

Briefly and beautifully mixed, the army of the Muse
   Wielding arms and feet prays and seeks aid.
Once Erice’s vanquished by a mammoth climb, the troops relax
   After they’re discharged, a warm homecoming awaits.

 

COMPLETE THE COUPLET

Auspiciis nullis Pulcher vix proelia tardat:
   (Si pulli nolunt ulla vorare, bibant!)

Although the omens were no good, Pulcher did not postpone the battle:
   (If the chickens won’t eat, let them drink!)

 

VARIA

PUNIC CAUSEWAY (Elegiac Couplet)
Submerged in the lagoon around Motya

Obstipui mirans vestigia Punica lapsa.
   Quisnam reliquias factaque nostra canet?

I was astonished, marveling at Punic traces, fallen.
   Who will sing of our remains and deeds?