Sappho

[Dark Muse]

I confess

I love that
which caresses
me. I believe

Love has his
share in the
Sun's brilliance
and virtue

[bluevictim]

It's too bad that so little of Sappho's work has survived.

Here's another one I like (often cataloged as fragment 16):


Some folks say a squadron of horsemen -- others,
Th'infantry -- still others, a fleet of warships --
Is the greatest beauty in all the Earth; I
say, it's your true love.

Altogether easy it is to make this
Clear to all, for she who in beauty others
Far surpassed -- of Helen I speak -- her husband,
perfectly noble,

Left behind and went under sail to Troy, and
Neither gave her child nor her own dear parents
Any thought at all; but away she led her
...

...
...
... reminds me now of Anactoria,
she who is absent.

I would rather look on her ravishing stride
And the shining radiance of her face than
Chariots of Lydian make and marching
foot soldiers full-armed.

Translation is important when reading Sappho, as her works were highly closed form (she invented the Sapphic Ode, of course) and highly lyrical, though fragmentary.

I do have a nit to pick with JBI's claim that Sappho invented the Sapphic Ode -- it's unlikely that Sappho herself actually invented the form, though she often used it.

[Dark Muse]

At noontime

When the earth is
bright with flamming
heat falling straight down

the cricket sets
up a high-pitched
sniging in his wings

[JBI]

I do have a nit to pick with JBI's claim that Sappho invented the Sapphic Ode -- it's unlikely that Sappho herself actually invented the form, though she often used it.

yes perhaps you are right, though as far as history is concerned, she might as well have, as Nothing beside remains, as they say. Well, perhaps Alcaeus, but yes, true point, a mistake on my part.

[Dark Muse]

I took my lyre and said:

Come now, my heavenly
tortoise shell: become
a speaking instrument

[bluevictim]

I love Sappho, the first time I read her, I fell in love. Her work is simplistic beuaty. So I thought I would start a thread in honor of her to share her works.

By the way, I forgot to thank you for starting this thread!

I was wondering, though, what it is about Sappho's poems that people here find appealing? I find it interesting that most of the poems posted in this thread have been the shortest, most incomplete fragments, and I'm curious why these clumps of words were chosen over the more substantial fragments?

[Dark Muse]

For me, the poems I am posting are really just in order of how they appear within my book of her works. But there is something beautiful in some of the simplicity of these short works I think. For me, there is something very spiritual in her works that speaks to me on a deep level, in these fragements I think she does paint wonderful little pictures, and creates strong emotions.

[Dark Muse]

Although they are

Only breath, words
which I command
are immortal

[Dark Muse]

That afternoon

Girls ripe to marry
wover the flower-
heads into necklaces

[Dark Muse]

We heard them chanting:

First voice:

Young Adonis is
dyng! O Cytherea
What shall we do now?

Second Voice

Batter your breasts
with your fists, girls--
tatter your dresses!

[Dark Muse]

Its no use 

Mother dear, I 
can't finnish my 
weaving 
       You may 
blame Aphrodite 

soft as she is 

she has almost 
killed me with
love for that boy

[Dark Muse]

People do gossip

And they say about
Leda, that she

once found an egg
hidden under

wild hyacinths

[bluevictim]

Here is another one of Sappho's major poems (usually cataloged as fragment 1):

Aphrodite, richly enthroned immortal
Child of Zeus and weaver of wiles, I beg you --
Overwhelm me not in my heart with grief and
trouble, my mistress;

Rather come to me, if there ever was a
Time when, having heard from afar my cries, you
Heeded them, and leaving your father's golden
chambers you came here,

Having yoked your chariot; beautiful swift
Sparrows led you over the lower black Earth
Flapping close-packed wings through the middle ether
down out of heaven

And arrived with speed. And then you, o goddess,
With a smile to grace your immortal visage
Asked me what this time have I suffered, why this
time do I summon,

What do I most madly desire to happen
In my heart -- "Whom this time should I persuade to
Bring you back again into friendship? Who's mis-
treating you, Sappho?

Ev'n if now she flees, she will soon pursue you;
If she now spurns gifts, she will later give them;
If she now loves not, she will love you soon, un-
willing if need be."

Please come even now, and release me from my
Difficult cares; all I desire accomplished
In my heart accomplish, and be yourself my
ally in battle.



Unfortunately, it looks like there's not too much interest in Sappho here at LitNet.

One theme that often appears in Sappho's poems is that of longing. It occurs in all of the longer poems posted so far in this thread -- fragment 96 (the poem that quasimodo1 posted), fragment 16 (the poem I posted earlier), and fragment 1 (above). In each of these poems, Sappho uses a different context to build up this theme. In fragment 96, she uses a locus amoenus, in fragment 16, she uses traditional martial sentiments, and in fragment 1 she uses a hymn. I think in all three of these poems Sappho's treatment of yearning is very effective. Anyways, just a few thoughts to see if any interest can be stirred up here for Sappho.

For me, the poems I am posting are really just in order of how they appear within my book of her works. But there is something beautiful in some of the simplicity of these short works I think. For me, there is something very spiritual in her works that speaks to me on a deep level, in these fragements I think she does paint wonderful little pictures, and creates strong emotions.

I agree that the fragments and snippets are sometimes very evocative. It really is too bad that so much has been lost.

[Dark Muse]

Yes I agree the idea of longing does appear quite often within her work. One of the other things which I do find very interesting about her work, and which I enjoy, is the way she so often evokes the gods, she seems to have a close personal relationship to them, and some of her poems are like little conversations to them.

[bluevictim]

One of the other things which I do find very interesting about her work, and which I enjoy, is the way she so often evokes the gods, she seems to have a close personal relationship to them, and some of her poems are like little conversations to them.

Yes, especially Aphrodite, and fragment 1 is a great example.