National Poetry Month

[brigdh]

Fragment 16 by Sappho. Translation by Anne Carson.

Some men say an army of horse and some men say an army on foot
and some men say an army of ships is the most beautiful thing
on the black earth. But I say it is
          what you love.

Easy to make this understood by all.
For she who overcame everyone
in beauty (Helen)
          left her fine husband

behind and went sailing to Troy.
Not for her children nor her dear parents
had she a thought, no—
          ]led her astray

                    ]for
                    ]lightly
          ]reminded me now of Anaktoria
          who is gone.

I would rather see her lovely step
and the motion of light on her face
than chariots of Lydians or ranks
          of footsoldiers in arms.