Epitaph
My name is Skythinos, not the author
of Herakleitos Commentaries
but just one epigram. I wrote it while
at school and Plato saw it and kicked me out.
It was in praise of Beauty, origin
of mind. It sealed my fate. I tutored children
in this village and died a pauper. Do not pity
me; flowers grow here all year round.
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Author: Tom D'Evelyn
Tom D'Evelyn is a private editor and writing tutor in Cranston RI and, thanks to the web, across the US and in the UK. He can be reached at tom.develyn@comcast.net. D'Evelyn has a PhD in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley. Before retiring he held positions at The Christian Science Monitor, Harvard University Press, Boston University and Brown University. He ran a literary agency for ten years, publishing books by Leonard Nathan and Arthur Quinn, among others. Before moving to Portland OR he was managing editor at Single Island Press, Portsmouth NH. He blogs at http://tdevelyn.com and other sites.
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Metaxyturn Diaries 
What’s the background to this, Tom? It has a certain feel to it, a consistent voice. Is it your translation of a classical text?
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It’s my imitation of a Greek epigram. I studied the epigram for several years in grad school with every intention of devoting my thesis to the genre. Didn’t happen; long story.
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So, a long story about short poems! How intriguing! I enjoyed this one – especially the last ten words, in themselves an epigram and an epilogue.
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