You know the place: then
Leave Crete and come to us
waiting where the grove is
pleasantest, by precincts
sacred to you; incense
smokes on the altar, cold
streams murmur through
the
apple branches, a young
rose thicket shades the
ground
and quivering leaves pour
down deep sleep; in meadows
where horses have grown sleek
among spring flowers, dill
scents the air. Queen! Cyprian!
Fill our gold cups with [...]
Archive for the ‘Sappho’ Category
You know the place: then
Posted in Sappho on February 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
In the spring twilight
Posted in Sappho on November 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
In the spring twilight
The full moon shining:
Girls take thier places
as through around an altar
~ Sappho
When I saw Eros
Posted in Sappho on October 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
When I saw Eros
On his way down
from heaven, he
wore a soldier’s
cloak dyed purple
~ Sappho
Peace reigned in heaven
Posted in Sappho on October 16, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Peace reigned in heaven
Ambrosia stood
already mixed
in the wine bowl
It was Hermes
who took up the
wine jug and poured
wine for the gods
~ Sappho
Its no use
Posted in Sappho on October 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
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
~ Sappho
We heard them chanting
Posted in Sappho on October 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
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!
–Sappho
And I said
Posted in Sappho on September 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
And I said
I shall burn
the fat thigh-bones of
a white she-goat
at her altar
~ Sappho
To Atthis
Posted in Sappho on September 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
To Atthis
Though in Sardis now,
she thinks of us constantly
and of the life we shared.
She saw you as a goddess
and above all your dancing gave her deep joy.
Now she shines among Lydian women like
the rose-fingered moon
rising after sundown, erasing all
stars around her, and pouring light equally
across the salt sea
and over densely flowered fields
lucent under dew. Her [...]
Without Warning
Posted in Sappho on September 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Without warning
as a whirlwind
swoops on an oak
Love shakes my heart
~ Sappho
