Quotes from Sappho's Poems

Quotations follow the Anne Carson translation (Vintage, 2002) — our recommended edition.

1. 2

   Some men say an army of horse and some men say an army on foot and some men say an army of ships is the most beautiful thing on the black earth. But I say it is what you love.

2. 3

   Deathless Aphrodite of the spangled mind, child of Zeus, who twists lures, I beg you do not break with hard pains, O lady, my heart.

3. 4

   Eros the melter of limbs (now again) stirs me — sweetbitter unmanageable creature who steals in.

4. 5

   Someone, I say, will remember us in the future.

5. 6

   no: tongue breaks and thin fire is racing under skin.

6. 7

   greener than grass I am and dead — or almost I seem to me.

7. 8

   Moon has set and Pleiades: middle night, the hour goes by, alone I lie.

8. 9

   He seems to me equal to gods that man whoever he is who opposite you sits and listens close to your sweet speaking and lovely laughing.

9. 10

   Someone will remember us I say even in another time.

10. 11

    I would rather see her lovely step and the motion of light on her face than chariots of Lydians or ranks of footsoldiers in arms.

11. 12

    Eros shook my mind like a mountain wind falling on oaks.

12. 13

    as the sweetapple reddens on a high branch high on the highest branch and the applepickers forgot.

13. 14

    What is beautiful is good, and who is good will soon be beautiful.

14. 15

    Dead you will lie and never memory of you will there be nor desire into the aftertime — for you do not share in the roses of Pieria.

15. 16

    I simply want to be dead.

16. 17

    Hesperus, you herd homeward whatever Dawn's light dispersed.

17. 18

    like the hyacinth in the mountains that shepherd men with their feet trample down and on the ground the purple flower.

18. 19

    I have a beautiful child who is like golden flowers in form, darling Kleis.