The Storm
A poem by Alcaeus of Mytilene (c. 625/620 – c. 580 BC) Now here, now there, the wild waves sweep, Whilst we, betwixt them o’er the deep, In shatter’d tempest-beaten bark, With laboring ropes are onward driven, The billows dashing o’er our dark Upheaved deck–in tatters riven Our sails–whose yawning rents between The raging sea and […]
The State
A poem by Alcaeus of Mytilene (c. 625/620 – c. 580 BC) What constitutes a State? Not high-raised battlement, or labored mound, Thick wall or moated gate; Not cities fair, with spires and turrets crown’d; No:–Men, high-minded men, With powers as far above dull brutes endued In forest, brake or den, As beasts excel cold rocks […]
The Poor Fisherman
A poem by Alcaeus of Mytilene (c. 625/620 – c. 580 BC) The fisher Diotimus had, at sea And shore, the same abode of poverty– His trusty boat;–and when his days were spent, Therein self-rowed to ruthless Dis he went; For that, which did through life his woes beguile, Supplied the old man with a funeral […]
The Palace
A poem by Alcaeus of Mytilene (c. 625/620 – c. 580 BC) From roof to roof the spacious palace halls Glitter with war’s array; With burnished metal clad, the lofty walls Beam like the bright noonday. There white-plumed helmets hang from many a nail, Above, in threatening row; Steel-garnished tunics and broad coats of mail Spread […]
Storm
A poem by Alcaeus of Mytilene (c. 625/620 – c. 580 BC) Now here, now there, the wild waves sweep, Whilst we, betwixt them o’er the deep, In shatter’d tempest-beaten bark, With laboring ropes are onward driven, The billows dashing o’er our dark Upheaved deck–in tatters riven Our sails–whose yawning rents between The raging sea and […]
Poor Fisherman
A poem by Alcaeus of Mytilene (c. 625/620 – c. 580 BC) The fisher Diotimus had, at sea And shore, the same abode of poverty– His trusty boat;–and when his days were spent, Therein self-rowed to ruthless Dis he went; For that, which did through life his woes beguile, Supplied the old man with a funeral […]
Invitation
A poem by Alcaeus of Mytilene (c. 625/620 – c. 580 BC) Why wait we for the torches’ lights? Now let us drink while day invites. In mighty flagons hither bring The deep-red blood of many a vine, That we may largely quaff, and sing The praises of the god of wine, The son of Jove […]
A Banquet Song
A poem by Alcaeus of Mytilene (c. 625/620 – c. 580 BC) The rain of Zeus descends, and from high heaven A storm is driven: And on the running water-brooks the cold Lays icy hold; Then up: beat down the winter; make the fire Blaze high and higher; Mix wine as sweet as honey of the […]
The Vision Of Cassandra
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) CASSANDRA Phoebus Apollo! CHORUS Hark! The lips at last unlocking. CASSANDRA Phoebus! Phoebus! CHORUS Well, what of Phoebus, maiden? though a name ‘Tis but disparagement to call upon In misery. CASSANDRA Apollo! Apollo! Again! Oh, the burning arrow through the brain! Phoebus […]
The Sacrifice Of Iphigenia
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) Now long and long from wintry Strymon blew The weary, hungry, anchor-straining blasts, The winds that wandering seamen dearly rue, Nor spared the cables worn and groaning masts; And, lingering on, in indolent delay, Slow wasted all the strength of Greece away. […]
The Lament Of The Old Nurse
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) NURSE Our mistress bids me with all speed to call Aegisthus to the strangers, that he come And hear more clearly, as a man from man, This newly brought report. Before her slaves, Under set eyes of melancholy cast, She hid her […]
The Defiance Of Eteocles
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) MESSENGER Now at the Seventh Gate the seventh chief, Thy proper mother’s son, I will announce, What fortune for this city, for himself, With curses he invoketh:–on the walls Ascending, heralded as king, to stand, With paeans for their capture; then with […]
The Decree Of Athena
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) Hear ye my statute, men of Attica– Ye who of bloodshed judge this primal cause; Yea, and in future age shall Aegeus’s host Revere this court of jurors. This the hill Of Ares, seat of Amazons, their tent, What time ‘gainst Theseus, […]
The Complaint Of Prometheus
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) PROMETHEUS (alone) O holy Aether, and swift-winged Winds, And River-wells, and laughter innumerous Of yon Sea-waves! Earth, mother of us all, And all-viewing cyclic Sun, I cry on you,– Behold me a god, what I endure from gods! Behold, with throe on throe, […]
The Beacon Fires
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) A GLEAM – a gleam – from Ida’s height, By the Fire-god sent, it came; From watch to watch it leapt, that light, As a rider rode the flame! It shot through the startled sky, And the torch of that blazing glory […]
The Battle Of Salamis
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) The night was passing, and the Grecian host By no means sought to issue forth unseen. But when indeed the day with her white steeds Held all the earth, resplendent to behold, First from the Greeks the loud-resounding din Of song triumphant […]
Song Of The Furies
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) Up and lead the dance of Fate! Lift the song that mortals hate! Tell what rights are ours on earth, Over all of human birth. Swift of foot to avenge are we! He whose hands are clean and pure, Naught our wrath to […]
Prometheus Amid Hurricane And Earthquake
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) Earth is rocking in space! And the thunders crash up with a roar upon roar, And the eddying lightnings flash fire in my face, And the whirlwinds are whirling the dust round and round- And the blasts of the winds universal leap […]
Prayer Artemis
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) STROPHE IV Though Zeus plan all things right, Yet is his heart’s desire full hard to trace; Nathless in every place Brightly it gleameth, e’en in darkest night, Fraught with black fate to man’s speech-gifted race. ANTISTROPHE IV Steadfast, ne’er thrown in […]
Lament Two Brothers Slain Each Other039s Hand
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) Now do our eyes behold The tidings which were told: Twin fallen kings, twin perished hopes to mourn, The slayer, the slain, The entangled doom forlorn And ruinous end of twain. Say, is not sorrow, is not sorrow’s sum On home and […]
Lament For The Two Brothers Slain By Each Others Hand
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) Now do our eyes behold The tidings which were told: Twin fallen kings, twin perished hopes to mourn, The slayer, the slain, The entangled doom forlorn And ruinous end of twain. Say, is not sorrow, is not sorrow’s sum On home and […]
Fragment From Aeschylus
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) The man who rightly acts without coercion Will not be grieved, can never wholly sink in wretchedness; While the lawless criminal is forcibly dragged under In the current of time when from the shattered mast The elements rip down his sails. He […]
Complaint Prometheus
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) PROMETHEUS (alone) O holy Aether, and swift-winged Winds, And River-wells, and laughter innumerous Of yon Sea-waves! Earth, mother of us all, And all-viewing cyclic Sun, I cry on you,– Behold me a god, what I endure from gods! Behold, with throe on throe, […]
Battle Salamis
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) The night was passing, and the Grecian host By no means sought to issue forth unseen. But when indeed the day with her white steeds Held all the earth, resplendent to behold, First from the Greeks the loud-resounding din Of song triumphant […]
A Prayer For Artemis
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) STROPHE IV Though Zeus plan all things right, Yet is his heart’s desire full hard to trace; Nathless in every place Brightly it gleameth, e’en in darkest night, Fraught with black fate to man’s speech-gifted race. ANTISTROPHE IV Steadfast, ne’er thrown in […]
With his venom by Sappho
With his venom irresistible and bittersweet that loosener of limbs, Love reptile-like strikes me down ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of world poetry. Poetry Monster — the multilingual library of poetic works. Here you’ll find original […]
We put the urn aboard ship by Sappho
We put the urn aboard ship with this inscription: This is the dust of little Timas who unmarried was led into Persephone’s dark bedroom And she being far from home, girls her age took new-edged blades to cut, in mourning for her, these curls of their soft hair ————— The End And that’s the End […]
We know this much by Sappho
We know this much Death is an evil; we have the gods’ word for it; they too would die if death were a good thing ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of world poetry. Poetry Monster — […]
We know this much by Sappho
We know this much Death is an evil; we have the gods’ word for it; they too would die if death were a good thing ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of world poetry. Poetry Monster — […]
On The Tomb Of A Priestess Of Artemis by Sappho
Voiceless I speak, and from the tomb reply Unto Æthopia, Leto’s child, was I Vowed by the daughter of Hermocleides, Who was the son of Saonaïades. O virgin queen, unto my prayer incline, Bless him and cast thy blessing on our line. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. […]
To One who Loved not Poetry by Sappho
THOU liest dead, and there will be no memory left behind Of thee or thine in all the earth, for never didst thou bind The roses of Pierian streams upon thy brow; thy doom Is now to flit with unknown ghosts in cold and nameless gloom. ————— The End And that’s the End of the […]
To One False In Love by Sappho
O false as fair I am forgotten, then, by thee! Or haply on another shine The eyes that once looked into mine Pretence of love – all faithlessly Out! nought I care For such as can true love betray! Love on, forsworn, your little day: Ye are nought to me. ————— The End And that’s […]
To Aphrodite by Sappho
You know the place: then Leave Crete and come to us waiting where the grove is pleasantest, by precincts sacred to you; incense smokes on the altar, cold streams murmur through the apple branches, a young rose thicket shades the ground and quivering leaves pour down deep sleep; in meadows where horses have grown sleek […]
To A Girl In A Garden by Sappho
O soft and dainty maiden, from afar I watch you, as amidst the flowers you move, And pluck them, singing. More golden than all gold your tresses are: Never was harp-note like your voice, my love, Your voice sweet-ringing. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic […]
Before They Were Mothers by Sappho
Before they were mothers Leto and Niobe had been the most devoted of friends ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of world poetry. Poetry Monster — the multilingual library of poetic works. Here you’ll find original poems, […]
The Torments Of Love by Sappho
O Queens of Song, descend from your home. From the golden halls of Olumpus on high! O shell divine, now, now become Voiceful, to utter mine heart’s wild cry! O Calliope, vouchsafe thine aid Unto one whom the Muse of Love hath betrayed! Ah me, I know not what to do Who am wildered all, […]
The Silver Moon by Sappho
The silver moon is set; The Pleiades are gone; Half the long night is spent, and yet I lie alone. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of world poetry. Poetry Monster — the multilingual library of poetic […]
The Death Of Adonis by Sappho
This is the lamentation-song For Adonis – woe for Adonis, woe! Thus wailed Aphrodite in anguish-throe, As she strove to hold him back from death: “Let thine heart not faint, O love! Be strong! O me, it burns me, thy failing breath! It kindles through all my being a fire! My heart is aflame with […]
Like The Sweet Apple by Sappho
Like the sweet apple that reddens At end of the bough– Far end of the bough– Left by the gatherer’s swaying, Forgotten, so thou. Nay, not forgotten, ungotten, Ungathered (till now). ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository […]
In the spring twilight by Sappho
In the spring twilight the full moon is shining: Girls take their places as though around an altar ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of world poetry. Poetry Monster — the multilingual library of poetic works. Here […]