Kassia's poem

My book on women poets by penguin, still amazes me! Despite the centuries it can still be said of mankind today...what a woman...

Kassia, 9th century, Byzantine Greece.
The only woman poet of distinction in Byzantine History. Tradition says she was to be chosen as a bride by the Emperor, but was rejected when she answered him with the edged wit she is famous. She founded a convent and was the abbess for the remainder of her life.

You meet your friend, your face
Brightens-you have struck gold.

Wealth covers sin-the poor
Are naked as a pin.

Poverty?Wealth? seek neither-
One causes swollen heads,
the other swollen bellies.

A half deaf,bald,one handed,
Stuttering, pint-sized,pimply
Pigeon toed,cross-eyed man,
When mocked by a lying pimp,
A thieving murderous drunk,
of his misfortune said:
I'm not to blame-you think
I asked to be like this?
But you!..the credit's yours.
Your Maker gave you nothing.
behold the self made man.

A learned fool? God save us!
The pigs are wearing pearls.
Better unborn than fool.

If born, spare earth your tread.
Don't wait. Go straight to hell.
No remedy for fools,
No helping them, but death.

In office?puffed and strutting.
Acclaimed?beyond endurance.
Columns of stone will kneel
Before you change a fool.
The artful Armenian.
Emerod.Wooden nickel.Mad
Dog.Weathervane.Back biter.
Bladder.Bog.

A wise man put it well-
"Without a name, he's naught,
less when he gets a name,
least of all when rich,
and richer, holding office,
Honoured-less then least."

Ask for a taste of luck
before you ask for beauty.
A nun's life-free as a bird,
A nun- a door unopened.