The Poems of Sappho

Sappho was a Greek lyric poet who lived on the island of Lesbos in the 7th century BCE. She was renowned for her poetry, which often focused on love and relationships. Unfortunately, much of her work has been lost over time, and only fragments of her poems have survived.

Despite the fragmentary nature of her work, Sappho's poetry has had a profound influence on literature and culture, and she is still celebrated as one of the greatest poets of all time. Her poetry is characterized by its intense emotional and sensual imagery, as well as its use of musical language and meter.

Some of Sappho's most famous poems include "Ode to Aphrodite," which describes the speaker's longing for the goddess of love to come to her aid in matters of the heart, and "Fragment 31," which speaks of the power of love to overcome even the most rational of minds.

Sappho's work has been translated into numerous languages over the centuries, and her influence can be seen in the works of countless poets and writers throughout history. 

Translated by Edwin Marion Cox.