The Poetry of Sappho

by Jim Powell

Today, thousands of years after her birth, in lands remote from her native island of Lesbos and in languages that did not exist when she wrote her poetry in Aeolic Greek, Sappho remains an important name among lovers of poetry and poets alike,. Celebrated throughout antiquity as the supreme Greek poet of love and of the personal lyric, noted especially for her limpid fusion of formal poise, lucid insight, and incandescent passion, today her poetry is also prized for its uniquely vivid participation in a living paganism. Collected in an edition of nine scrolls by scholars in the second century BC, Sappho's poetry largely disappeared when the Fourth Crusade sacked Constantinople in 1204. All that remained was one poem and a handful of quoted passages . A century ago papyrus fragments recovered in Egypt added a half dozen important texts to Sappho's surviving works. In 2004 a new complete poem was deciphered and published. By far the most significant discovery in a hundred
years, it offers a new and tellingly different example of Sappho's poetic art and reveals another side of the poet, thinking about aging and about the transmission of culture from one generation to the next. Jim Powell's translations represent a unique combination of poetic mastery in English verse and a deep schlolarly engagement with Sappho's ancient Greek. They are incomparably faithful to the literal sense of the Greek poems and, simultaneously, to their forms, preserving the original meters and stanzas while exactly replicating the dramatic action of their sequences of disclosure and the passionate momentum of their sentences. Powell's translations have often been anthologized and selected for use in textbooks, winning recognition among discerning readers as by far the best versions in English.

Genres: Poetry, Classics, LGBT, Lesbian, Mythology, Romance, Queer

80 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 551

About the author

This is the disambiguation profile for otherwise unseparated authors publishing as Jim Powell

See also:
James Powell
Jimmie Powell

Reviews

[Afifa Afreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fragmentary nature of the poems made me feel like I'm missing a lot, but the feminine gaze and tone of the poems was so refreshing 😩🤌🏼

[aetan · Rating 3 out of 5]

“May you sleep upon your gentle companion’s breast.” is the same as “get u a gf..... nap on her tiddy”

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's gay poetry bro. Gay ancient poetry. How could you not like??

[Imane · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the stars surrounding the lovely moon will
hide away the splendor of their appearance
when in all her fullness she shines the brightest
over the whole earth
[LP 34]

[z ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Sappho and her poetry, but the translation was just not that good.

[Raya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rating is neither for the poems (as most are obscure fragments) nor for the translation (which most reviewers before me have criticized).

My rating is entirely based on how, even after 2600 years of her birth, a woman remains strong in the canon of world literature. Reading these fragments sent me back to the emotionally charged headscape I had after reading Enheduanna (the Sumerian priestess). Now that I read these, I'll just retire to create vague scenarios of these two women writing their thoughts down, possibly unaware that they are to be immortalized.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many quotable moments in this collection of poetry, but wow, that was beautiful. My favourite moment:

‘ “Honestly, I would like to die.”
She was leaving me, saying goodbye, her cheeks
wet with tears, and she said to me:
“What a cruel unhappiness,
Sappho, I swear that I leave you against my will.”
This is what I replied to her:
“Go, fare well, and remember me,
for you certainly know how we cared for you.
If you don’t, why then, I would like to remind you [
] and the beautiful times we had:
for with many a crown of roses
mixed with crocus and violets
you were garlanded while you were at my side
and with many a flower necklace
you encircled your tender throat,
plaiting blossoms together to make a wreath,
and with flowery perfumes [ precious, queenly [
you anointed yourself [
and on beds of soft luxury
you would satisfy all your longing for that tender girl [
Never was there a festival
at a shrine or a temple where we were absent [
nor a grove or a dance ’

I’m so gay 😭😅💞

[TK421 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of my favorite fragments and/or sections of her poetry include:

"Some say thronging cavalry, some say foot soldiers, others call a fleet the most beautiful of sights the dark earth offers, but I say it's whatever you love best."

"don't you remember...we, too, did such things in our youth."

"May storm winds and worries bear off the man who lectures my anguish."

"As a sweet apple reddens on a high branch at the tip of the topmost bough: The apple pickers missed it. No, they didn't miss it: They couldn't reach it."

"Lift high the roofbeam..." (Updike, anyone?)

[Alyssa Vienneau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tbh I read this primarily because ~as a queer woman~ saying you've read Sappho is such a flex (admittedly in the most pretentious way possible). I had no idea how much of her poetry was lost? Like for someone who's name has survived Millenia id have assumed we'd have more than a couple of fragmented poems and some quotes. It was beautiful though, lots of reviews said this translation was shit so id love to find a better collection.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come to me now once again and release me
from grueling anxiety.
All that my heart longs for,
fulfill. And be yourself my ally in love’s battle.

Some say an army of horsemen,
some of footsoldiers, some of ships,
is the fairest thing on the black earth,
but I say it is what one loves.

[Issa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sappho is still read, even though she lived in the seventh century, before Christ.

When I started reading this book, I had in mind that I'll read poems that have detailed descriptions of lesbian and sexual intercourses, but it was quite the contrary. Sappho's poetry is full of rapture. She uses mythological allusions as a means to depict her emotional lust for the human body, and the feminine body specifically. Many times, she relates to Aphrodite and Eros, and she invents passionate conversations between her and them.

Almost all of the book contains fragments or poetic epigrams, though there are a few narrative poems.

I liked many of what she wrote here, for example :

"Like a child to her mother, I have flown to you."

"Earth with her many garlands is embroidered."

"Fool, don't try to bend a stubborn heart."

"You have forgotten me or else you love another more than me."

"Far more melodious than the lyre, more golden than the gold."

And there is a quotation that shows her tendency to her same sex:

"Toward you beautiful girls, my thoughts never alter."

[Baroness · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have immersed myself in Love, Romance and Passion so I decided to read Sappho.
The words that resonated with me were deathless face, raving heart and raven tresses....

[Isaac Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm beginning to suspect something about this Sappho person...

[ellora ☁️ · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was a terrible read, I don't recommend it.

[lau · Rating 3 out of 5]

love sappho’s poems but this translation was ass lol

[Hana · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Surely once you too were a delicate child:
come now, sing this, all of you, add your voices"

[صفاء · Rating 3 out of 5]

لعل الكثيرين منا لم يسمع عن هذه الشاعرة الإغريقية التي حيرت النقاد بجمال شعرها وجرأتها في طرح مواضيع اجتماعية صريحة . وقد أعجبني شعرها كثيراً من الناحية الفنية . وقرأت ديوانها الوحيد الذي وصلنا من أصل تسعة دواوين كتبتها في حياتها.

https://m7raby.wordpress.com/2018/10/...

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love sappho
im so sad that more of her work didn't survive

[n · Rating 2 out of 5]

shit translation tf

[Elly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Sappho, but this is a poor translation, losing the poeticism of other translations and in parts seeming even to erase her desire for women.

[Andrijana Prodanić · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

I am unable to put my love for this book into words. Sappho's verses are lyrical, dynamic, musical and whimsical.

Wow, just wow.

The best thing I've read in 2020, without a doubt.

[Leonie]

I mean, the poetry sounds pretty, but I don’t understand it.

[Maya Lerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally me.

[Crystal S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I enjoyed reading this collection of translations I did question the format and framework.

With any translation, it is customary to have the translator share their goals in their undertaking. Why should I read THIS translation? What should I keep in mind. Without that in place at the beginning of the book, I questioned whether Jim Powell even translated this work or just compiled a nice reading of other translations he edited to read smoothly.

That’s the thing though, these are still delightful to read. Some translations are so true to the fragments that exist that it can be difficult to flow through the lines or comprehend them. The translations in this book are quite fun and easy to read.

Powell also lines multiple passages one after the other on the pages which makes for a short book! It’s quite funny reading Sappho in this way but it makes it feel more leisurely.

I think that in the fun and ease we lose some of the gravitas of how amazing Sappho’s work is. How sad it is that we only have fragments, but I hope any reader of Sappho knows that they need to read multiple translations and even multiple copies of the original text to properly study her work.

With that in mind, I’m happy to have read this translation and encourage YOU to read more. :)

[Allie Dulabaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

“As a sweet apple reddens / on a high branch // at the tip of the topmost bough / The apple-pickers missed it. // No, they didn’t miss it: / they couldn’t reach it” (27).

“but I’m not one of those with a resentful /temperament: I have a quiet heart” (30).

“I want to tell you something, and yet my shame prevents me … “ (34).

“Once I look at you for a moment, I can’t / speak any longer” (11).

“I don’t expect to touch the sky” (18).

“Never yet, … , have I found / anyone more vexing than you” (20).

“‘Honestly, I would like to die.’ / She was leaving me, saying goodbye, her cheeks // wet with tears, and she said to me: / ‘What cruel happiness, / Sappho, I swear that I will leave you against my will” (22).

“I think that someone will remember us in another time” (36).

“I don’t know what to do. I have two thoughts” (18).

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lacks sufficient information on how this translation came to be (no introduction), poems are quite fragmented. Still, Sappho is a joy to read.

“But stand before me, if you are my friend,
and spread the grace that is in your eyes.” LP 138


"And it's easy to make this understood by
everyone, for she who surpassed all human
kind in beauty, Helen, abandoning her
husband - that best of

men - went sailing off to the shores of Troy and
never spent a thought on her child or loving
parents: when goddess seduced her wits and
left her to wander," LP 16

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't read Sappho's Greek, and so I cannot judge the translation, but this is a handy pbk compendium, brought up to date with inclusion of recently discovered poems/fragments.

The notes are invariably helpful, with textual sources, a series of identifying notes, a brief "biography," and discussion of yje poetics. Jim Powell enjoys a good reputation as a poet and knows whereof he writes.

I'd say this is a first-rate introduction to a world famous poet, one who has a broad range of appeal.

[Georgia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

This work unfortunately falls victim to time, in that we currently only have fragments of many poems as opposed to the full text. While these fragments are of course no fault of the author or translator, they still make this work confusing to read and understand. I felt as if I was missing so much throughout the work and that Sapphos’ ideas would come through so much clearer if I had the full poem before me. The completed works however were beautiful and stunning to read. Her descriptions of love and intimacy became so personal and alive through her writing.

[anaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

better than anne carson’s imo. more poetic, less scattered

unfortunately I can’t speak much on the accuracy of the translation. having read multiple Sappho collections, this seems to have the standard amount of discrepancies between editions. however, there is one verse that seems glaringly mistranslated, the iconic fragment 102: “boy” instead of “youth”, and “weave my web” instead of just “weave” or “work the loom”

[Stafie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of my favourite passages:

"since whomever
I do well by, they are the very ones who
injure me most of all."
[LP 26.2–4]

"As the stars surrounding the lovely moon will
hide away the splendor of their appearance
when in all her fullness she shines the brightest
over the whole earth"
[LP 34]

"May storm winds and worries bear off the man who
lectures my anguish"
[LP 37]