Author: Sappho
Title: Fragment 16
Source: “Experts from Sappho: a new translation of the complete works: from Sappho: a new translation of the complete works, (Cambridge University Press, 2014) pp.33
Number of lines in pa**age: 22
Sappho is a renowned poet whose work has lasted centuries. Not only is she the only remembered female poet in all of ancient Greece, but is also the founder of lyric poetry. She is the first person, in written history, to bring about the subjectivity of one's self and life. Her poems are filled with the complex mixture of emotions displayed when you are in love. In this particular poem, Sappho brings up the topic of Helen and the city of Troy. She expresses her desire to admire Helen's beauty rather than the horrors of the Trojan War. She would rather speak of a beautiful woman's glowing face than the d**h that awaits the fighting men. And like every other man in all of Greece, Sappho prays that she can be admired back. Interestingly enough, many scholars believe that Sappho was gay. Her poems consisted of feelings of love for other women, and so, the term “lesbian” was named after her. Only fragments of her poems still exist today, with only one complete work. Scholars believe this occurred due to the taboo nature of her writing style. She wrote about emotions that were not meant to be spoken about in public, and the feelings a woman “shouldn't have” for another woman. Sappho was a dynamic poet who inspired generations of people to express their feelings through lyrics, poetry, and music. Without her influence our society's lyrical history would be completely different.
*means one missing line
Some say an army of horsemen, others
Say foot soldiers, still others say a fleet
Is the finest thing on the dark earth.
I say it is whatever one loves.
Everyone can understand this – consider
That Helen, far surpa**ing the beauty
Of mortals, left behind
The best man of all
To sail away to Troy. She remembered
Neither daughter nor dear parents
As [Aphrodite] led her away
*
[un]bending… mind
…lightly…thinks.
…reminding me now
Of Anaktoria gone.
I would rather see her lovely step
And the radiant sparkle of her face
Than all the war chariots in Lydia
And soldiers battling in arms.
Impossible… to happen
…human, but to pray for a share
… and for myself
*
Helpful links to outside sources:
http://www.sappho.com/poetry/sappho.html
http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/sappho
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/sappho