Fragment #188

#188

O mighty Eros, renowned myth weaver

Desire sparks the life of imagination

To gain knowledge of erotic things, is

The paramount pursuit in life

The tale will be told of my love, Phaon

Adored by Sappho, even though

Hymenaios never joined us as one

                   This love was everlasting

And through the years it grew and grew

No matter I married, had a child or two

My thoughts remained steadfast on you

                   My eternal lover

Will we be re-united again

That is my wish and my hope

I can only pray that Fate unfolds

                   A happy and fruitful end

Fragment #156

#156

Far more sweet-sounding than my lyre

Golder than gold is your honey-toned voice

When I hear the sound, O, my heart does rejoice

It kindles within me, evermore, divine desire

When will we be together I beseech you to know

As you travel o’er the wondrous world where I want to go

I’m left on this lonely island, my lovely Lesbos,

With only young maidens to teach the fine art

Of wooing and winning a mate, while most

Shall succeed, I can’t get you out of my heart

It’s thee I want for me eternally

How long will I have to wait

You always determine my fate

As I look out to the sea, diurnally

Fragment #147

#147

Someone will remember us, o’er the ages

Love as infinite as ours, I say will definitely

Endure, even if forgotten, even in another time

Someone shall recall, evoke the essence of

This unique commitment, plaud its unselfishness,

A poetess will take her plume in hand and

Expound to future lovers, the beauty of a

Caress, the tenderness of a kiss, the sheer

Pleasure in which we indulged, O Paphian

Beauty, inspire us as before, to entrust that

Our names be carved out of the Parian marble

To make people wonder who we were

Fragment #130

#130

Eros, the melter of limbs, now again stirs me—

Sweetbitter, unmanageable creature who steals in

Needs he no contrivance on his part, from the tree

He’ll simply pick the apple, the plumpest one when

He spots the juiciest, most tender, like the honeybee

He’ll dive right in, get his fill while luxuriating in the glen

He who brings love to others, in love he’ll never be

He’s heard all the stories, his only desire is to be free

No devices he devises, no instruments, no techniques do we see

When he is done with me, after he’s been with me, the wind

Will glide him away till another day and time when he

Has the desire for me will he for me selectively send 

Insurmountable he’ll wield his tricks effortlessly

And I’ll take in hand with his inspiration my pen

And write of the sweet yet bitter tune of flaming ecstasy

With him as stimulations my verses will flow, never to end

Fragment #128

#128

Here now, I call upon thee, three-blessed companions  

Of Kyprogeneia, O tender Graces, beauty, splendor and love

And Muses with the beautiful hair, you sisters nine of Pieria

To aid me in my memory to tell the story of Andromache

And her undying love for the hero, Hector, how she came

Across the sea from Thebes to mighty Ilios, her barge

Was met by chariots fastened to the strongest stallions, the

Whole city came out of its walls to chant the welcoming

Phrases, the colored banners were flying, the trumpets

Blaring, heralds proclaimed the blessed event of her arrival

Come to wed Troy’s favored son, the image of the gods

The festive banquets that were held, the dazzling dancing

The silver cups overflowing with the finest wines, as the

Proud father rose, O gallant Priam, and gave his blessing

To the gorgeous couple, she with the violets in her lap

To have a happy life and bear many children and live in

Peace but sadly, this was not to be their fate, the gods had

Other plans as Hector fought Achilles outside his city’s gates