Let us live, my Lesbia, let us love,
and all the words of the old, and so moral,
may they be worth less than nothing to us!
Suns may set, and suns may rise again:
but when our brief light has set,
night is one long everlasting sleep.
Give me a thousand kisses, a hundred more,
another thousand, and another hundred,
and, when we’ve counted up the many thousands,
confuse them so as not to know them all,
so that no enemy may cast an evil eye,
by knowing that there were so many kisses.
Back to Gaius Valerius Catullus
Get a free collection of Classic Poetry ↓
To be able to leave a comment here you must be registered. Log in or Sign up.
Comments1This piece bursts with passion and urgency. I thoroughly enjoyed the daring spirit, the disdain for societal norms, and the desire for an all-consuming love. It beautifully captures the fleeting nature of life and the urgency to squeeze every drop of joy and love out of every moment. The fervor for countless kisses and the idea of losing track of them adds a delightful sense of reckless love. Unforgettably moving!