Sappho

Day in, day out

I hunger and
I struggle

You will say

See, I have come
back to the soft
arms I turned from
in the old days.

Tell me

Out of all
mankind, whom
do you love

Better than
you love me?

About 3 years ago I read a fragment which was described as a newly discovered fragment of a poem by Sappho. I was very moved by it and tried to do a rendering myself. I think it is the same fragment that Medusa_Woman quoted. But hers seems longer. For what it's worth here's my poor effort.

Dear girls, you are young,
Take all the gifts the fragrant Muses bring you.
Pluck the clear melodious lyre with zeal, and dance with joy.

Old age has seized my once tender body
My hair’s turned white instead of dark
My heart’s grown heavy; my knees will not support me now,
Which once on a time were as fleet for the dance,
As young fawns are for the chase.
This state I oft bemoan but what’s to do?
Not to grow old? I’m mortal. It must be.

Remember the old story of Dawn, the rose- armed Goddess,
Smitten by love for Tithonus?
She carried him off to the world’s end.
He was handsome and young then.
Yet in time, grey age o’ertook him.
Sad mortal husband of immortal wife.

Sappho is a gentle lover. She's great. I don't know where my mom found it at some garage sale for like 50 cents and gave it to me. one of my favorites. Such fragmented beauty.

Without warning
as a whirlwind
swoops on an oak
Love shakes my heart

For those interested in learning more about Sappho's poetry I recommend Anne Carson's Eros the Bittersweet. A beautiful and painful little book.

I said, Sappho

Enough! Why
try to move
a hard heart?

What translation are you using Dark Muse?

Mary Barnard