Sappho

Sappho (born c.630 BC - 612 BC; died c. 570 BC - 581 BC) Greek poet; A prolific and much acclaimed writer, she is credited with either seven or nine long books of poetry, but over a thousand years of neglect and hostility destroyed most of her work. She is preserved in fragments, in citations in the works of classical authors, and on strips of papyrus found in Egypt. Many translators have attempted to fill in the gaps with their own interpretation of Sappho's style, thus a definitive collection is not possible.

Dream

O dream on your black wings

you come when I am sleeping.


Sweet is the god but still I am

in agony and far from my strength.


for I had hope (none now) to share

something of the blessed gods,


nor was I so foolish

as to scorn pleasant toys.


Now may I have

all these things.

Exhortation to Learning

A handsome man guards his image a while;

a good man will one day take on beauty.

Old Age

Of course I am downcast and tremble

with pity for my state

when old age and wrinkles cover me,


when Eros flies about

and I pursue the glorious young.

Pick up your lyre


and sing to us of her who wears

violets on her breasts. Sing especially

of her who is wandering.

Supreme Sight on the Black Earth

Some say cavalry and others claim

infantry or a fleet of long oars

is the supreme sight on the black earth.

I say it is


the one you love. And easily proved.

Didn't Helen, who far surpassed all

mortals in beauty, desert the best

of men, her king,


and sail off to Troy and forget

her daughter and her dear parents? Merely

Aphrodite's gaze made her readily bend

and led her far


from her path. These tales remind me now

of Anaktoria who isn't here,

yet I

for one


would rather see her warm supple step

and the sparkle in her face than watch all

the chariots in Lydia and foot soldiers armored

in glittering bronze.

To a Handsome Man

If you are my friend, stand up before me

and scatter the grace that's in your eyes.