Cave adsum

Alexander the Great in the Battle of Issus Mosaic

In memoriam Peter Morris Green, novelist, classicist, historian (December 22, 1924–September 16, 2024)

“Beware, I’m here,” ici présent.

Read this, traveler, if you want.

Playing with words, as is my wont,

like or detest them, if you don’t,

these fragments strive to entertain,

that's their desire and maker’s aim,

whose friends are dying, one by one—

three gone thus far now this year’s sum.

As yours are, too, I have no doubt,

once in the world, but now without.

I’m quite alone—so are we all.

Illusions vanish; harms befall—

but you the living note these lines,

Looking back at merrier times.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Green_(historian)