Le Coucher de Sappho, Charles Gleyre, 1867
Sappho's Hymn to Aphrodite
Iridescent-throned Aphrodite, deathless
Child of Zeus, wile-weaver, I now implore you,
Don't--I beg you, Lady--with pains and torments
Crush down my spirit,
But before if ever you've heard my pleadings
Then return, as once when you left your father's
Golden house; you yoked to your shining car your
Wing-whirring sparrows;
Skimming down the paths of the sky's bright ether
On they brought you over the earth's black bosom,
Swiftly--then you stood with a sudden brilliance,
Goddess, before me ... (more)
Translation (c) 1997 Elizabeth Vandiver, from Diotima
4 comments:
Ohhh that was pretty. I know I've read that poem before, but it's been ages.
Catching up on all of your posts from the last few days, Gracie, and revelling in your words. Did you know that you're one of my girl crushes? ;)
Thanks, Mary, I needed that. ;-)
It's pouring rain here, and I am up to my eyeballs in muddy doggies--the thought that some one finds me crush-worthy brightens up my day considerably!
Not just the verse-
But that lady has a very pretty tushie !
Count me in.
And I like wet dogs, even though they make a lot of mucky-mc blechhh !
Isn't she well-endowed, Chaya? I love the way her back is to the viewer, yet she seems aware of being watched. Not coy, just confident.
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