To An Aged Cut-Up

Horace: Book III, Ode 15 "Uxor pauperis Ibyci, Tandem nequitiæ fige modum tuæ--" IN CHLORIN Dear Mrs. Ibycus, accept a little sound advice, Your manners and your speech are overbold; To chase around the sporty way you do is far from nice; Believe me, darling, you are growing old. Now Pholoë may fool around (she dances like a doe!) A débutante has got to think of men; But you were twenty-seven over thirty years ago-- You ought to be asleep at half-past ten. O Chloris, cut the ragging and the roses and the rum-- Delete the drink, or better, chop the booze! Go buy a skein of yarn and make the knitting needles hum, And imitate the art of Sister Suse.