Poem of Sapho: Analysis
Zachary Moore
Professor Jo Scott-Coe
Images of Women in Literature
16, March 2012
Poem of Sappho
Then I said to the elegant ladies:
“How you will remember when you are old the glorious things we did in our youth!
We did many pure and beautiful things.
Now that you are leaving the city love’s sharp pain encircles my heart.”
The poem above is one of the many poems of the famous Greek poet Sappho. Although many of Sappho’s writings were publicly burned in the cities of Rome and Constantinople, much of her work survives today. This is due in major part to the respect felt for her in some Greek and Latin communities who memorized her entire body of work. Even the great philosopher Plato showed her great respect by donning her “the tenth muse”.
This is one of Sappho’s shorter known poems, as some are over a thousand words. I believe it serves as a sort of farewell to perhaps some of her colleagues and friends. She begins, “Then I said to the elegant ladies”. This not only indicates she is speaking to a group of women, obviously, but the use of the word “elegant”, also makes it seem as though she holds these ladies in high regard. She continues, “How you will remember when you are old the glorious things we did in our youth!” I believe this passage implies that the youth of these ladies is coming to a close and they are passing into adulthood. The next line reads, “We did many pure and beautiful things.” What I find most interesting about this line is her choice of the word “We”. This suggests to me that she is not teaching or lecturing a group of students or minions, but rather including herself in the group; making them colleagues or equals.
The final lines say “Now that you are leaving the city, love’s sharp pain encircles my heart.” This line makes it very apparent that the group or audience of women she is speaking to will be departing outside the city very shortly. She goes on to speak about the pain of love “encircling” her heart. This suggests to
Professor Jo Scott-Coe
Images of Women in Literature
16, March 2012
Poem of Sappho
Then I said to the elegant ladies:
“How you will remember when you are old the glorious things we did in our youth!
We did many pure and beautiful things.
Now that you are leaving the city love’s sharp pain encircles my heart.”
The poem above is one of the many poems of the famous Greek poet Sappho. Although many of Sappho’s writings were publicly burned in the cities of Rome and Constantinople, much of her work survives today. This is due in major part to the respect felt for her in some Greek and Latin communities who memorized her entire body of work. Even the great philosopher Plato showed her great respect by donning her “the tenth muse”.
This is one of Sappho’s shorter known poems, as some are over a thousand words. I believe it serves as a sort of farewell to perhaps some of her colleagues and friends. She begins, “Then I said to the elegant ladies”. This not only indicates she is speaking to a group of women, obviously, but the use of the word “elegant”, also makes it seem as though she holds these ladies in high regard. She continues, “How you will remember when you are old the glorious things we did in our youth!” I believe this passage implies that the youth of these ladies is coming to a close and they are passing into adulthood. The next line reads, “We did many pure and beautiful things.” What I find most interesting about this line is her choice of the word “We”. This suggests to me that she is not teaching or lecturing a group of students or minions, but rather including herself in the group; making them colleagues or equals.
The final lines say “Now that you are leaving the city, love’s sharp pain encircles my heart.” This line makes it very apparent that the group or audience of women she is speaking to will be departing outside the city very shortly. She goes on to speak about the pain of love “encircling” her heart. This suggests to