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Tears through the mist； and burns with fervent heat
The tender grasses and the meadow flowers；
Then suddenly the heavy clouds close in
And through the dark the thunder's muttering
Is drowned amid the dashing of the rain。
But I have seen my day grow calm again。
The sun sets slowly on a peaceful world；
And sheds a quiet light across the fields。
Guenevere
I was a queen； and I have lost my crown；
A wife； and I have broken all my vows；
A lover； and I ruined him I loved：
There is no other havoc left to do。
A little month ago I was a queen；
And mothers held their babies up to see
When I came riding out of Camelot。
The women smiled； and all the world smiled too。
And now； what woman's eyes would smile on me？
I still am beautiful； and yet what child
Would think of me as some high； heaven…sent thing；
An angel； clad in gold and miniver？
The world would run from me； and yet am I
No different from the queen they used to love。
If water； flowing silver over stones；
Is forded； and beneath the horses' feet
Grows turbid suddenly； it clears again；
And men will drink it with no thought of harm。
Yet I am branded for a single fault。
I was the flower amid a toiling world；
Where people smiled to see one happy thing；
And they were proud and glad to raise me high；
They only asked that I should be right fair；
A little kind； and gowned wondrously；
And surely it were little praise to me
If I had pleased them well throughout my life。
I was a queen； the daughter of a king。
The crown was never heavy on my head；
It was my right； and was a part of me。
The women thought me proud； the men were kind；
And bowed right gallantly to kiss my hand；
And watched me as I passed them calmly by；
Along the halls I shall not tread again。
What if； to…night； I should revisit them？
The warders at the gates； the kitchen…maids；
The very beggars would stand off from me；
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