Poem 8

In this poem, Catullus is writing about someone trying to get over someone else that they once loved. Catullus again uses Lesbia as the woman and starts off the poem by telling himself that it is time to give up in line one. He then goes on to say that once things used to be good but now they are not and then goes on to the second half of the poem where he tells himself not to be week in line 9 and then builds up his confidence by listing all of the things she will be losing by giving him up. He asks questions like: “who will visit you?” and “who will kiss you?” to boost his own confidence. What makes this poem timeless and classic is the general theme of falling out of love and saying goodbye to an ex-lover. One modern day song that this poem reminded me of is “Take a Bow” by Rihanna. In the song, she uses the end of a show to describe breaking up with her lover. She says “you put on quite a show, really had me going” which is the idea Catullus had in line 3 when he wrote “once the sun shone bright on you”; the idea that at one time things were good. Then the song continues “but now its time to go, curtain’s finally closing” which is the same idea Catullus had when he wrote “goodbye girl”; which is the idea that things are over between us now. So the fact the this poem can be connected to a modern day song proves that it is classic and timeless.