Sappho's 1: Anne Carson
Remember how I said that this was a contemporary poetry list? Well, this week's theme is poems by Sappho, but translated by Anne Carson. Ms. Carson is my favorite poet ever, and she published If Not, Winter in 2002, which makes these contemporary translations. Check the commentary for some things about Sappho and the translation.
1
Sappho, trans. Anne Carson
(For those interested, I have put up the Greek at http://www.lightquencher.net/sappho/sappho1.jpg)
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
but come here if ever before
you caught my voice far off
and listening left your father's
golden house and came,
yoking your car. And fine birds brought you,
quick sparrows over the black earth
whipping their wings down the sky
through midair--
they arrived. But you, O blessed one,
smiled in your deathless face
and asked what (now again) I have suffered and why
(now again) I am calling out
and what I want to happen most of all
in my crazy heart. Whom shall I persuade (now again)
to lead you back into her love? Who, O
Sappho, is wronging you?
For if she flees, soon she will pursue.
If she refuses gifts, rather will she give them.
If she does not love, soon she will love
even unwilling.
Come to me now: loose me from hard
care and all my heart longs
to accomplish, accomplish. You
be my ally.
This is the only one of Sappho's poems that survives complete. I give it to you first so that you can compare the lack of lines in the next six poems. It's such a crying shame that this is all we have.
I put together a short discussion of Sappho's life & works. Anyone with anything to add can feel free to email.
There are many translations of Sappho's work, but I have chosen these. If anyone wants to suggest other translations (or submit their own), I'm happy to post up a link. :)
1
Sappho, trans. Anne Carson
(For those interested, I have put up the Greek at http://www.lightquencher.net/sappho/sappho1.jpg)
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
but come here if ever before
you caught my voice far off
and listening left your father's
golden house and came,
yoking your car. And fine birds brought you,
quick sparrows over the black earth
whipping their wings down the sky
through midair--
they arrived. But you, O blessed one,
smiled in your deathless face
and asked what (now again) I have suffered and why
(now again) I am calling out
and what I want to happen most of all
in my crazy heart. Whom shall I persuade (now again)
to lead you back into her love? Who, O
Sappho, is wronging you?
For if she flees, soon she will pursue.
If she refuses gifts, rather will she give them.
If she does not love, soon she will love
even unwilling.
Come to me now: loose me from hard
care and all my heart longs
to accomplish, accomplish. You
be my ally.
This is the only one of Sappho's poems that survives complete. I give it to you first so that you can compare the lack of lines in the next six poems. It's such a crying shame that this is all we have.
I put together a short discussion of Sappho's life & works. Anyone with anything to add can feel free to email.
There are many translations of Sappho's work, but I have chosen these. If anyone wants to suggest other translations (or submit their own), I'm happy to post up a link. :)