Another selection of her poems' fragments
Fragment 31 V
He seems to me to be like the gods--
whatever man sits opposite you
and close by hears you
talking sweetly
And laughing charmingly, which
makes the heart within my breast take flight;
for the instant I look upon you, I
cannot anymore speak one word,
But in silence my tongue is broken, a fine
fire at once runs under my skin,
with my eyes I see not one thing, my ears buzz,
Cold sweat covers me, trembling
seizes my whole body, I am more moist than grass;
I seem to be little short of dying...
But all must be ventured....
Sappho's only surviving complete poem is this beautiful hymn beseechin Aphrodite (the Greek goddess of beauty and love) to help her win a reluctant lady.
Fragment 1 V (Hymn to Aphrodite)
O immortal Aphrodite of the many-colored throne,
child of Zeus, weaver of wiles, I beseech you,
do not overwhelm me in my heart
with anguish and pain, O Mistress,
But come hither, if ever at another time
hearing my cries from afar
you heeded them, and leaving the home of your father
came, yoking your golden
Chariot: beautiful,swift sparrows
drew you above the black earth
whirling their wings thick and fast,
from heaven's ether through mid-air.
Suddenly they had arrived; but you, O Blessed Lady,
with a smile upon your immortal face,
asked what I had suffered this time and
why I was calling this time
And what was I most wanting to happen for me
in my frenzied heart: "Whom again shall I persuade
to come back into friendship with you? Who,
O Sappho, does you injustice?
"For if indeed she flees, soon will she pursue,
and though she receives not your gifts, she will give them,
and if she loves not now, soon she will love,
even against her will."
Come to me now also, release me from
harsh cares; accomplish as many things as my heart desires
to accomplish; and you yourself
be my fellow soldier.
Here are some translations of more fragments of Sappho's poems. These fragments were unearthed from the sands of Egypt or discovered as strips of paper wrapping mummifed animals, so the beginnings and ends of the lines are lost. Still you can tell a lot from what remains.
...
For that girl, that beautiful
girl; her dress's
clinging makes you shake when you
see it,
And I laugh for joy.
Every Lesbian should memorize that! It's short, and it would be so cool to be able to quote a fragment of Sappho, who felt the same way you do over 2,600 years ago! Here's more:
...slick with slime...
...Pollyana is satisfied...
...shoots out...
Playing such music upon these strings
Wearing a dildo of leather...
Such a thing as this ... enviously
...twirls quivering expertly
...and has for a fragrance
...hollow...
...mysteries, orgies...
...
This randy madness I joyfully
proclaim.
You may forget.
But let me tell you this:
someone
in some future time
will think of us
(Sappho)
Go to Sappho's page.
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