Immortal Sappho

These are my modern English translations/interpretations of ancient Greek poems by the immortal Sappho of Lesbos… With my two small arms, how can I think to encircle the sky? —Sappho, fragment 35, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Mother, how can I weave, so overwhelmed by love? —Sappho, fragment 90, loose translation by Michael R. Burch What cannot be swept ——— aside must be wept. —Sappho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch What cannot be said must be wept. —Sappho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch The moon has long since set; the Pleiades are gone; now half the night is spent, yet here I lie—alone. —Sappho, fragment 52, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Midnight. The hours drone on as I moan here, alone. —Sappho, fragment 52, loose translation by Michael R. Burch You are, of all the unapproachable stars, the fairest. —Sappho, fragment 155, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Someone, somewhere will remember us, I swear! —Sappho, fragment 147, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Gold does not rust, yet my son becomes dust? —Sappho, fragment 137, loose translation by Michael R. Burch No droning bee, nor even the bearer of honey for me! —Sappho, fragment 113, loose translation by Michael R. Burch I have a delightful daughter fairer than the fairest flowers, Cleis, whom I cherish more than all Lydia and lovely Lesbos. —Sappho, fragment 132, loose translation by Michael R. Burch I have a lovely daughter with a face like the fairest flowers, my beloved Cleis... —Sappho, fragment 132, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Attis, you forsake me and flit off to Andromeda... —Sappho, fragment 131, loose translation by Michael R. Burch He is dying, Cytherea, the delicate Adonis. What shall we lovers do? Rip off your clothes, bare your breasts and abuse them! —Sappho, fragment 140, translation by Michael R. Burch Awed by the moon’s splendor, stars covered their undistinguished faces. Even so, we. —Sappho, fragment 34, translation by Michael R. Burch Those I most charm do me the most harm. —Sappho, fragment 12, translation by Michael R. Burch Just now I was called, enthralled, by golden-sandalled dawn... —Sappho, fragment 15, translation by Michael R. Burch Preposterous Eros shot me in the buttocks, with a Devilish grin, spent all my money in a rush then left my heart effete pink mush. —Michael R. Burch Keywords/Tags: Sappho, translations, Lesbos, lesbian, love, Eros