An ancient
Greek poet.
Little is known of her life and what litle information we do have comes from her
poetry, which consists of one complete poem, several
long fragmants, and countless smaller pieces.
Reportedly bisexual and had relationships with men and women throughout her life. But women were clearly her main objects of affection; From her, we get the word "sapphic", and the word "lesbian" derives from the Isle of Lesbos, where she spent most of her life.
"For that
girl, that lovely maiden; the clinging
of her dress makes you shake when you see it,
And I laugh for joy." -Sappho.
"On the throne of many hues, Immortal Aphrodite,
child of Zeus, weaving wiles--I beg you
not to subdue my spirit, Queen,
with pain or sorrow
but come--if ever before
having heard my voice from far away
you listened, and leaving your
father's
golden
home you came
in your chariot yoked with swift, lovely
sparrows bringing you over the dark earth
thick-feathered wings swirling down
from the sky through
mid-air
arriving quickly--you, Blessed One,
with a smile on your unaging face
asking again what have I suffered
and why am I calling again
and in my wild heart what did I most wish
to happen to me: "Again whom must I persuade
back into the harness of your love?
Sappho, who wrongs you?
For if she flees,
soon she'
ll pursue,
she doesn't accept gifts, but she'
ll give,
if not now loving,
soon she'
ll love
even against her will."
Come to me now again, release me from
this pain, everything my spirit longs
to have fulfilled, fulfill, and you
be my
ally -Sappho.
