• Catullus’s language alone demonstrates his friendly affection towards Calvus, but the appearance of those words and phrases in other romantic and passionate poems emphasizes the romance of the piece
• The mood of Catullus’ poem 50 can best be described as loving, as demonstrated by his choice of vocabulary, use of poetic devices, and references to his other poems
• The poem offers two possible explanations for Catullus’ desire: one, that he simply wishes to spend more time with his close friend, and two, that his longing for Calvus’ company is rooted more firmly in romantic, possibly sexual intentions. No matter Catullus’ true inclination, the mood of his poem is reflective of his all-consuming desire.
• He comments that they write together because they find it “delicatos” (“self-indulgent” line 3,) demonstrating the sincere pleasure that Catullus feels with Calvus. This light-hearted play that they share together is balanced by how “incensus” (“inflamed” line 8) Catullus finds himself when they are apart.
• the poem is meant to be some sort of ode to their friendship, just as 31 is meant to be an ode to Sirmio
• By putting these words in this order, Catullus is not only calling Calvus clever and charming, but he is also literally surrounding his name with those words
• ...making his emotions less dramatic but at the same time more believable
• A structural choice of Catullus’ stresses this further when “ut tecum...essem” (“so that I might be with you”, line 13) frames the explanatory line, for it is this desire that engulfs and tortures him
• intimacy