Uglier Than Sin Poem by gershon hepner

Lady, make quite sure that you
hang out with friends who’re uglier than sin;
that way you may entice a few
myopic men to give your back a spin.

Inspired by Epigram lxxix from Book VIII of Martial’s Epigrams:

Omnis aut vetulas habes amicas
aut turpis vetulisque foediores.
has ducis comites trahisque tecum
per convivial, porticus, theatra,
sic formosa, Fabulla, sic puella es.

This was translated by James Michie thus:

Her women friends are all old hags
Or worse, hideous girls. She drags
Them with her everywhere she goes-
To parties, theaters, porticoes.
Clever Fabulla! Set among
Those foils you shine, even look young.


2/13/08