His Boat Poem by Gaius Valerius Catullus

His Boat

Rating: 3.2


This boat you see, friends, will tell you
that she was the fastest of craft,
not to be challenged for speed
by any vessel afloat, whether
driven by sail or the labour of oars.
The threatening Adriatic coast won’t deny it,
nor the isles of the Cyclades,
nor noble Rhodes, nor fearful Bosphorus,
nor the grim bay of the Black Sea
where, before becoming a boat, she was
leafy wood: for on the heights of Cytorus
she often hissed to the whispering leaves.
The boat says these things were well known to you,
and are, Amastris and box-wood clad Cytorus:
she says from the very beginning she stood
on your slope, that she dipped her oars
in your water, and carried her owner from there
over so many headstrong breakers,
whether the wind cried from starboard
or larboard, or whether Jupiter struck at the sheets
on one side and the other, together:
and no prayers to the gods of the shore were offered
for her, when she came from a foreign sea
here, as far as this limpid lake.
But that’s past: now hidden away here
she ages quietly and offers herself to you,
Castor and his brother, heavenly Twins.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Chukwuebuka Adebayo 07 November 2018

she was great in her time, she was hardworking woman.as the bible described her as an ideal woman.thanks for this.

1 0 Reply
Adrian Flett 07 November 2018

Such a wonderful description of how something inanimate became a living entity 'she ages quietly and offers herself to you'

1 0 Reply
Kumarmani Mahakul 07 November 2018

But that’s past: now hidden away here she ages quietly and offers herself to you, Castor and his brother, heavenly Twins.....so touching and impressive. Beautiful poem.

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Edward Kofi Louis 07 November 2018

Not to be challenged for speed! ! Thanks for sharing.

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Nadia Umber Lodhi 07 November 2018

friends, will tell you that she was the fastest of craft, not to be challenged for spe

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Sylvia Frances Chan 26 April 2021

This is great poem of Catullus the great Classic Poet. Always a greatest pleasure to read.Congratulations!

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Kumarmani Mahakul 07 November 2019

A great poem by Gaius Valerius Catullus is well executed.

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Tamara Beryl Latham 07 November 2019

Classic poetry never goes out of style. Great choice and an enjoyable read. : -)

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Sylvia Frances Chan 07 November 2019

Excellent choice dear Poem Hunter and Team to award the Prize to this Beauty as The Classic Poem Of The Day. True enjoyable read, most pleasurable read. Thank you for your tremendous choice.

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Sylvia Frances Chan 07 November 2019

A very beautiful poem Catullus wrote, but with such a saddest ending: for her, when she came from a foreign sea here, as far as this limpid lake. But that’s past: now hidden away here she ages quietly and offers herself to you, Castor and his brother, heavenly Twins. True Beauty this Catullus poem.

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