Taylor Swift is a poet like all musicians are, but she is a modern Roman poet. Believe it or not the beloved pop star, Taylor Swift has a great similarity to ancient Roman Poetry. Specifically, her songs mirror the poet, Catullus, one of the most influential poets of ancient Rome, once that both artists express strong emotions of love and hatred toward those in their past. For example, in Taylor’s song The Way I Loved You the lyrics which state “So in love that you act insane, and that’s the way I loved you, breaking down and coming undone” reflect Catullus 75. In this poem, he writes about how his love and devotion for Lesbia, the woman he loved, has caused his mind to be ruined and reduced; in the first line he writes “At this point, my mind is so broken down by your doing.” Furthermore, in Catullus 72 and in the song You’re Not Sorry they talk about their unfaithful lover whom they know they’ve been hurt by but still have a burning love for. In Catullus’ poem the lines, “Though I am burnt more fiercely, you are cheaper and of less meaning to me. How is this so, you ask? Because such an injury drives a lover to love more often but to be less friendly.” This strongly echoes Taylor Swift’s lyrics that say “Could’ve loved you all my life If you hadn’t left me waiting in the cold. And you got your share of secrets. And I’m tired of being last to know.” Also, in the iconic love and hate song, We Are Never Getting Back Together Taylor discusses her back and forth with her lover. She expresses this in the lyrics, “I say ‘I hate you we break up you call me I love you.” In the same way, Catullus talks about his love, and hate emotions in Catullus 85, which reads “I hate and I love. Why I do this, perhaps you ask. I know not, but I feel it happening and I am tortured.” Little do people know that the girl boss, Taylor Swift has deep connections with the famous Roman Poet, Catullus. Both mainly talk about their love, betrayal, and pain through their words. Catullus impacted the literary world of ancient Rome and proved that poetry could be a profession, and now Taylor Swift is following in his footsteps.
