The Girl from Lesbos (Anacreon, 358)

Once more, butterscotch-blonde-haired

Eros lobs that bright purple ball at me.

Oh, she’s wearing those rainbow shoes.

He compels me to play with her.

She, though: old money family,

Upper East Side of Lesbos. Me?

Look at him, and that greying hair!

Maybe she’s after peach fuzz.

Graece

σφαίρῃ δηὖτέ με πορφυρέῃ

βάλλων χρυσοκόμης Ἔρως,

νήνι ποικιλοσαμβάλῳ

συμπαίζειν προκαλεῖται.

ἣ δ’ — ἐστὶν γὰρ ἀπ’ εὐκτίτου

Λέσβου — τὴν μὲν ἐμὴν κόμην —

λευκὴ γάρ — καταμέμφεται,

πρὸς δ’ ἄλλην τινὰ χάσκει.