excerpts from

          FRAGMENTS OF SAPPHO


                  

translated and compiled by anne carson

                     ]heart 
                     ]absolutely
                     ]I can
                     ]
            ]would be for me
            ]to shine in answer
                     ]face 
                     ]
                     ]having been stained
                     ]
              

                     Some men say an army of horse
                     and some men say an army on foot
                     and some men say an army of ships 
                     is the most beautiful thing on the black earth.

                     But I say it is 
                                 what you love

                              
                

      ] ] 
      ] ] 
      goatherd] longing] sweat] ] 
      ] ] 
      roses] ] 
      ]
      

                      dream of black                                                 
                      you come roaming and when sleep  

                      sweet god, terribly from pain             
                      to hold the strength separate            

                      but I expect not to share                 
                      nothing of the the blessed ones 
                      
                      for I would not be like this
                      toys

                      but may it happen to me
                      all
            

                       but I to you of a white goat



                       and I will pour wine over
              

                  ]
                  ]
                  ]
                  ]rumor
                  ]hair

                  ]at the same time

                  ]man
                  ]
                  ]   
        

                   ]anxiety
                   ]ground
                   ]
                   ]
          

       do not move stones
     

        neither for me honey
        nor the honey bee
       

        someone will remember us
                        I say
                        even in another time
       

       wealth without virtue is no harmless neighbor