Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PARTING, by SAPPHO


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PARTING, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Truly I want to die
Last Line: And royal ointment on my hair you shed.'
Subject(s): Aphrodite; Love - Erotic; Farewell; Love; Mythology - Classical; Parting


Truly I want to die.
Such was her weeping when she said Good-bye.

These words she said to me:
'What sad calamity!
Sappho, I leave you most unwillingly.'

To her I made reply:
'Go with good heart, but try
Not to forget our love in days gone by.

'Else let me call to mind,
If your heart proves unkind,
The soft delightful ways you leave behind.

'Many a coronet
Of rose and violet,
Crocus and dill upon your brow you set:

'Many a necklace too
Round your soft throat you threw,
Woven with me from buds of ravishing hue,

'And often balm you spread
Of myrrh upon my head,
And royal ointment on my hair you shed.'





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net