Sappho

The moon and the Pleiades set; it is midnight. Time passes and I lie alone.

She who shuns love soon will pursue it,

She who scorns gifts will send them still:

That girl will learn love, though she do it

Against her will.’

Come to me now. Drive off this brutal

Distress. Accomplish what my pride

Demands. Come, please, and in this battle

Stand at my side

Because the blessèd Graces grant gifts to the garlanded

And snub the worshipper with no flowers on her head

I CONFESS

I love that

which caresses

me. I believe

Love has his

share in the

Sun’s brilliance

and virtue

SAY WHAT YOU PLEASE

Gold is God’s child;

neither worms nor

moths eat gold; it

is much stronger

than a man’s heart

TONIGHT I’VE WATCHED

The moon and then

the Pleiades

go down

The night is now

half-gone; youth

goes; I am

in bed alone

MY LOVELY FRIENDS

How could I change

towards you who

are so beautiful?

YES, IT IS PRETTY

But come, dear, need

you pride yourself

that much on a ring?

has put

a torch to your heart

and she without even

the art of lifting her

skirt over her ankles