from Archilochus

229 the beechshaft flew
98 spears

of the overcome

Athena the divine
tower
of stone
men of Lesbos
hand in hand
with Zeus Olympian

we brought malice
on swift spears

they stood struggling
on the walls

which
with effort
we
clad in ladders

all in motion

quivers uncovered
turmoil

there

101 the bodies of
seven we overtook

we thousand killers

# # #

36 against the wall
in thick shadow

49 hated

thief roves
the city at night

# # #

45 they choked on
clots of pride

129 you
choke on friends

# # #

88 Erxias

where will these
doomed troops muster

89 now all
smoke
ships
sharp
killing
dries
in the sun

daring
who yearn
much can
but
cut
them
checked

this
the people
relax
release

from brothers
cut off
broken
driven

for me breath
from below
dies the same

know this
message will
reach Thasos
and Toronaius

quick ships
from Paros
and brothers

breath but
fire surrounds

the city

Erxias send
a raid
don’t fail

# # #

193 I’m wracked with regret
riven with aches
to the bone
I lie lifeless

196 I’m slack and
undone by desire

191 like Polyphemus’ sheep

that urge curled
into my chest
poured thick mist
over my eyes
stole my sense
and drove me
from below

# # #

30 gladdened by myrtle
and a rose

32 through the myrtle

37 such a fence
surrounds the yard

# # #

170 they stayed behind
many of them

132 and their thought
shifts with events

# # #

237 how he sawed
through the neck

222 cut the sinews
of his member

# # #

195 to bring home
something clearly wrong

202 close to me
and my friend

# # #

31 hair
shaded
shoulders and back

48 fragrant
hair and breast

old men burn
Glaucus

180 embers in it

235 under a load

219 but nothing resists

254 we can’t

# # #

111 cheer the boys

gods have already
fixed the outcome

4 hey
stranger

dinner
no

don’t press me

come
with the dipper
along
all the benches
of this ship
dole out wine
from that jug
scrape the bottom

we
can’t stay sober
on this watch

# # #

23 it’s work
sure
if he’s afraid
he won’t stay
but that’s not me

I care
count on it

I don’t know
what you think

that I’m a fool
fair enough

but it’s not true

I’m an ant
I’m steady

give
when I get

take
when I’m taken

that’s the truth

and I’m here
for the taking

make them jealous

# # #

230 Zeus give them
an awful drought

107 the Dog Star
rises in heat

let
that bright light
wither them all

# # #

168 Charilaus
son of Erasmon
here’s something funny
my good friend
listen and laugh

35 I have an ox
he’s regal

he knows his work
but won’t

252 snapped his dickstring

# # #

41 the kingfisher on
the rock outcrop
beats its wings

212 the edge of
waves and air

24 the sea resounds

213 souls held in
the waves’ embrace

8 in the ocean’s
braided gray brine
praying for home

9 if his head
and lithe limbs

had only had
Fire’s clean clothes

12 hide
the dread gifts
of Lord Poseidon

106 a fast craft
in the sea
under full sail
and let run
before the wind

so long as
we remember you
keep us from
the batter and roil

you know how

105 Glaucus
see the deep
troubled with swells

a cloud sits
on Gyrae’s heights

sign of storms
and sudden fear

192 of fifty men
Poseidon saved one
Koiranos

# # #

184 cunning held water
in one hand
in the other
fire

118 if
I could touch
Neobule’s hand

# # #

197 Zeus
I didn’t have
a wedding feast

246 but women beckon

# # #

211 a good gig
and sharp pilot

307 the trap fishes
while you sleep

# # #

236 distressed by lice

44 there was drool
at his mouth
quite a lot

47 girls drove him
from the door

# # #

127 my mistake made
mischief for another

226 I understand nothing
nothing at all

# # #

38 only
the better daughter
of Lycambes

60 triply blessed who has
such a child

172 father Lycambes
what
are you saying
you sound deranged
you were always
so sensible before
now
with everyone
you’re a joke

# # #

205 don’t wear perfume
at your age

188 your skin
no longer supple
has grown dry
and
furrowed with age

the soft expression
of your face

has
felt the breath
of winter winds

many winter winds

189 you had a few
blind eels

190 and I had
deep wooded clefts
in youth

# # #

231 skirting submerged hogbacks

21 a spine
of an island

with a line
of defiant trees