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And I； their queen； would climb the stairs alone；
Pass through the banquet…hall； a loathed thing；
And seek my chambers for a hiding…place；
And I should find them but a sepulchre；
The very rushes rotted on the floors；
The fire in ashes on the freezing hearth。
I was a queen； and he who loved me best
Made me a woman for a night and day；
And now I go unqueened forevermore。
A queen should never dream on summer eves；
When hovering spells are heavy in the dusk：
I think no night was ever quite so still；
So smoothly lit with red along the west；
So deeply hushed with quiet through and through。
And strangely clear； and deeply dyed with light；
The trees stood straight against a paling sky；
With Venus burning lamp…like in the west。
I walked alone amid a thousand flowers；
That drooped their heads and drowsed beneath the dew；
And all my thoughts were quieted to sleep。
Behind me； on the walk； I heard a step
I did not know my heart could tell his tread；
I did not know I loved him till that hour。
Within my breast I felt a wild； sick pain；
The garden reeled a little； I was weak；
And quick he came behind me； caught my arms；
That ached beneath his touch； and then I swayed；
My head fell backward and I saw his face。
All this grows bitter that was once so sweet；
And many mouths must drain the dregs of it。
But none will pity me； nor pity him
Whom Love so lashed； and with such cruel thongs。
Erinna
They sent you in to say farewell to me；
No； do not shake your head； I see your eyes
That shine with tears。 Sappho； you saw the sun
Just now when you came hither； and again；
When you have left me； all the shimmering
Great meadows will laugh lightly； and the sun
Put round about you warm invisible arms
As might a lover； decking you with light。
I go toward darkness tho' I lie so still。
If I could see the sun； I should look up
And drink the light until my eyes were blind；
I should kneel down and kiss the blades of grass；
And I should call the birds with such a voice；
With such a longing； tremulous and keen；
That they would fly to me and on the breast
Bear evermore to tree…tops and to fields
The kiss I gave them。 Sappho； tell me this；
Was I not sometimes fair？ My eyes； my mouth；
My hair that loved the wind； were they not worth
The breath of love upon them？ Yet he passed；
And he will pass to…night when all the air
Is blue with twilight； but I shall not see。
I shall have gone forever。 Hold my hands；
Hold fast that Death may never come between；
Swear by the gods you will not let me go；
Make songs for Death as you would sing to Love
But you will not assuage him。 He alone
Of all the gods will take no gifts from men。
I am afraid； afraid。
Sappho； lean down。
Last night the fever gave a dream to me；
It takes my life and gives a little dream。
I thought I saw him stand； the man I love；
Here in my quiet chamber； with his eyes
Fixed on me as I entered； while he drew
Silently toward me he who night by night
Goes by my door without a thought of me
Neared me and put his hand behind my head；
And leaning toward me； kissed me on the mouth。
That was a little dream for Death to give；
Too short to take the whole of life for； yet
I woke with lips made quiet by a kiss。
The dream is worth the dying。 Do not smile
So sadly on me with your shining eyes；
You who can set your sorrow to a song
And ease your hurt by singing。 But to me
My songs are less than sea…sand that the wind
Drives stinging over me and bears away。
I have no care what place the grains may fall；
Nor of my songs； if Time shall blow them back；
As land…wind breaks the lines of dying foam
Along the bright wet beaches； scattering
The flakes once more against the laboring sea；
Into oblivion。 What care have I
To please Apollo since Love hearkens not？
Your words will live forever； men will say
〃She was the perfect lover〃 I shall die；
I loved too much to live。 Go Sappho； go
I hate your hands that beat so full of life；
Go； lest my hatred hurt you。 I shall die；
But you will live to love and love again。
He might have loved some other spring than this；
I should have kept my life I let it go。
He would not love me now tho' Cypris bound
Her girdle round me。 I am Death's； not Love's。
Go from me； Sappho； back to find the sun。
I am alone； alone。 O Cyprian 。 。 。
Love Songs
Song
You bound strong sandals on my feet；
You gave me bread and wine；
And bade me out； 'neath sun and stars；
For all the world was mine。
Oh take the sandals off my feet；
You know not what you do；
For all my world is in your arms；
My sun and stars are you。
The Rose and the Bee
If I were a bee and you were a rose；
Would you let me in when the gray wind blows？
Would you hold your petals wide apart；
Would you let me in to find your heart；
If you were a rose？
〃If I were a rose and you were a bee；
You should never go when you came to me；
I should hold my love on my heart at last；
I should close my leaves and keep you fast；
If you were a bee。〃
The Song Maker
I made a hundred little songs
That told the joy and pain of love；
And sang them blithely； tho' I knew
No whit thereof。
I was a weaver deaf and blind；
A miracle was wrought for me；
But I have lost my skill to weave
Since I can see。
For while I sang ah swift and strange！
Love passed and touched me on the brow；
And I who made so many songs
Am silent now。
Wild Asters
In the spring I asked the daisies
If his words were true；
And the clever little daisies
Always knew。
Now the fields are brown and barren；
Bitter autumn blows；
And of all the stupid asters
Not one knows。
When Love Goes
I
O mother； I am sick of love；
I cannot laugh nor lift my head；
My bitter dreams have broken me；
I would my love were dead。
〃Drink of the draught I brew for thee；
Thou shalt have quiet in its stead。〃
II
Where is the silver in the rain；
Where is the music in the sea；
Where is the bird that sang all day
To break my heart with melody？
〃The night thou badst Love fly away；
He hid them all from thee。〃
The Wayfarer
Love entered in my heart one day；
A sad； unwelcome guest；
But when he begged that he might stay；
I let him wait and rest。
He broke my sleep with sorrowing；
And shook my dreams with tears；
And when my heart was fain to sing；
He stilled its joy with fears。
But now that he has gone his way；
I miss the old sweet pain；
And sometimes in the night I pray
That he may come again。
The Princess in the Tower
I
The Princess sings：
I am the princess up in the tower
And I dream the whole day thro'
Of a knight who shall come with a silver spear
And a waving plume of blue。
I am the princess up in the tower；
And I dream my dreams by day；
But sometimes I wake； and my eyes are wet；
When the dusk is deep and gray。
For the peasant lovers go by beneath；
I hear them laugh and kiss；
And I forget my day…dream knight；
And long for a love like this。
II
The Minstrel sings：
I lie beside the princess' tower；
So close she cannot see my face；
And watch her dreaming all day long；
And bending with a lily's grace。
Her cheeks are paler than the moon
That sails along a sunny sky；
And yet her silent mouth is red
Where tender words and kisses lie。
I am a minstrel with a harp；
For love of her my songs are sweet；
And yet I dare not lift the voice
That lies so far beneath her feet。