[August Themes]

[measuringlife.livejournal.com]

A Sapphic Summer
August themes from the works of Sappho.

1. In the house of the Muses' servants grief is not right. It would not suit us.
2. Wealth without virtue is no harmless neighbor.
3. When anger spreads inside your breast keep watch against an idly barking tongue
4. But I'm not one of those with a resentful temperament. I have a quiet heart.
5. I don't expect to touch the sky with my two hands.
6. Although they are only breath, words which I command are immortal
7. The sweet apple reddens on a high branch
8. O Dream on your dark wings
9. here ice water babbles among the apple branches and musk roses have overshadowed all the ground; here down from the leaves' bright flickering entracement settles
10. The moon appeared in all her fullness and so the women stood around the altar.
11. But stand before me, if you are my friend, and spread the grace that's in your eyes.
12. To what shall I best liken you, dear bridegroom? Most of all to a slender sapling I liken you.
13. The moon has set and the Pleiades; it is the middle of the night and the hours go by and so I lie here alone.
14. Earth with her many garlands is embroidered
15. In my season I used to weave love garlands.
16. A sweetvoiced girl.
17. far more melodious than the lyre, more golden than gold
18. Over the eyes night's black slumber
19. Not one girl, I think, will ever look on the sunlight of another time who has such talent as this one does.
20. Don't you remember we, too, did such things in our youth
21. Fool, don't try and bend a stubborn heart
22. I don't know what to do. I have two thoughts.
23. Towards you beautiful girls my thoughts never alter
24. Then love shook my heart like the wind that falls on oaks in the mountains.
25. For me neither the honey nor the bee.
26. You came, and I was mad to have you: your breath cooled my heart that was burning with desire.
27. May you sleep upon your gentle companion's breast.
28. A tender girl picking flowers.
29. Mingled with colors of every kind
30. I miss you and I yearn after you
31. I think someone will remember us in another time.


These all come from Sappho: A Garland translated by Jim Powell. Note that to post here I had to alter the format slightly, because otherwise it wouldn't work well as a list.