C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.
So Near and Yet So Far
By Martial (c. 40–c. 104 A.D.)
Y
Our stoops you see are side by side;
And people think I’m puffed with pride,
And envy me serenely blessed,
With such a man for host and guest.
The fact is this—he’s just as far
As folks in Borrioboola Gha.
What! booze with him? or see his face,
Or hear his voice? In all the place
There’s none so far, there’s none so near!
We’ll never meet if both stay here!
To keep from knowing New at all,
Just lodge with him across the hall!