Deathless Aphrodite of the spangled mind
child of Zeus, who twists lures, I beg you
do not break with hard pains
O lady, my heart!
but come here if ever before
you caught my voice far off
and listening left your father's
golden house and came,
yoking your car. And fine birds brought you
quick sparrows over the black earth
whipping their wings down the sky
through midair---
they arrived. But you, O blessed one,
smiled in your deathless face
and asked what (now again) I have suffered and why
(now again) I am calling out
and what I want to happen most of all
in my crazy heart. Whom should I persuade (now again)
to lead you back into her love? Who, O
Sappho, is wronging you?
For if she flies, soon she will pursue.
If she refuses gifts, rather she will give them.
If she does not love, soon she will love
even unwilling
Come to me now: loose me from hard
care and all my heart longs
to accomplish, accomplish. You
be my ally.
Sappho, translated Anne Carson
