Catullus 51 vs. Sappho 31

When you read Catullus's poem 51, which is really Sappho's poem 31 just a different point of view, you see how Catullus slowly draws the reader in by using the technique of starting the poem out with these board powerful statements to these very detailed, elaborated and powerful statements which close the poem. When you read the first stanza Catullus says, "That guy seems to me to be equal to a God." That leaves you with questions...what guy and what makes him like a God? Then Catullus goes on, "That guy seems to even surpass the God if its permitted." You are still curious to find out who this guy is and now Catullus is telling you that this guy can surpass a God if you permit it? As you read on who find out that this guy is sitting opposite to someone and he is sitting there listening and smiling, at that person opposite to him, sweetly. You still don't know who this guy is or this other person he is sitting across from but you do know that the narrator is watching this from a far. Which is sorta creepy. Then the next line tells you that Catullus is not pleased to see this because when he saw this all of his senses were ripped out of him. Finally Catullus reveals a name, "As soon as I catch sight of you, Lesbia, there was no voice left in my voice, my tongue froze, a thin flame shooting down my limbs, my ears ringing with their own sound, my eyes are covered over by a twin night." OK so Catullus isn't being creepy, be is in love with Lesbia. Catullus then ends the poem with him talking to himself about the fact that he has to much leisure time and he rejoices and carry on too much. Leisure time has destroyed kings and fortunate cities. I think that what Catullus thinks is leisure time by standing around watching Lesbia is really him just being in love with her.

After reading Catullus 51, I read Sappho 31 which is the original poem that Sappho wrote before Catullus rewrote the poem. The main difference in Sappho 31 was that it was "Lexbia's" prospective not Catullus's. Sappho starts the poem the same way, he is God, he is more than God in my eyes. Following this you read how this man is sitting next to her and listening to her when she speaks...exactly how Catullus explained it to us. Then she moves on and tells you her feelings about this guy who you can tell she is deeply in love with. "I can't speak, my tongue is broken, thin flames run under my skin, seeing nothing, hearing my own ear drums, I drip in sweat, trembling shakes my body and I turn paler than dry grass." This is exactly how Catullus felt when he saw Lesbia. I think about it like a chain, Catullus is madly in love with Lesbia but she is madly in love with the guy sitting across from her. To complete this chain, the only thing left would be this guys point of view.