* You don't have to comment on the blog for this assignment--it's like your normal 4 questions, but I only gave you one. You can bring this to class with you or e-mail it to me instead if you like.
NOTE: Be sure to get our next book, The Essential Iliad, since we'll start reading that next week. I'll post a video soon to introduce you to the world of Greek gods/mythology that the work is set in.READ THE POEMS FROM PAGES 189-355 (most are just a line long)
ONLY ONE QUESTION THIS TIME!
Q1: Most of the poems in this part of the book are very fragmentary, and some are only a few words. We don't really know if all of these are distinct poems, or actually belong to each other. Indeed, some of these poems might all be part of one 'lost' poem, just in different versions. So choose 4-5 "tiny" poems that you think would work together as a larger poem. Write that poem out and explain why you think these lines work well together and help us 'see' a larger poem or story.
FOR EXAMPLE, here's mine:
I conversed with you in a dream Kyrpogeneia (134)
and gold chickpeas were growing on the banks (143)
mingled with all kinds of colors (152)
my darling one (163),
someone will remember us, I say, even in another time (147)
I chose these lines because they paint a picture of a dream-world where the poet and her lover live together in happiness, by the bank of a river with gold chickpeas growing, full of all kinds of colors. It's a memory of happier times when they weren't far apart. And she the poet tells her that even though they're apart and forgotten today, someone will one day remember their love, maybe thousands of years later, when they read about it in a poem. Just like we are today! :)
See? Wasn't that fun? Now try to make your own!
I long and seek after (73)
ReplyDeleteO beautiful O graceful one (221)
but me you have forgotten (263)
you burn me (77)
cloth dripping (243)
but I am not someone who likes to wound, rather I have a quiet mind (245)
I chose to make my poem a little darker, to explore a cold side of Sappho's writing where she is heartbroken. These lines imply that she has sought after someone, a higher power or a loved one, whichever way you would like to interpret this, and she was rejected. She has been forgotten and it leaves her angry or burned, her cloth dripping with tears, but she doesn't lash out. The last line shows that even though she was hurt, and she is upset that she will not hurt the person back. I think the message of the poem can be powerful and hopeful. It can exemplify a greater purpose for getting hurt than pure retaliation. It shows that there will be times in life when you love someone and they reject you, leaving you with a horrible feeling, but even in pain you don't have to show anger. You can be quiet, enjoy the healing process, and be much better off in the end.
O beautiful O graceful one (221)
Deletegathering flowers so very delicate a girl (249)
I used to weave crowns (255)
mingled with all kinds of colors (307)
I chose these lines of poems to put together because not only did it fit well, it also tells a story of some sort. This reminds me of a wedding and there's a little girl who is the flower girl. I picture the little girl with a crown that has flowers on them. It brings back memories for Sappho when she used to make crowns "mingled with all kinds of colors", which would be different types of flowers that were being used for crowns. In my opinion, Sappho is happy or she is in peace because she is having a flashback. I may have went over-the-top with this one, but this is how the "tiny" poems gave me a little idea. Sappho did have good moments and it seems like this would be a moment that is remembered. We all have good moments when it comes to weddings and you remember the littlest or biggest things that happen.
-Brittney Taylor
Izzy: This is a beautiful response--I love how it becomes a poem of acceptance, despite the pain. You tell a wonderful story with these lines, and we can actually see how the bitterness fades into understanding, or at least tolerance. The lines seem to work perfectly together. The "cloth dripping" is interesting, too, since it suggests tears that have soaked her dress, or a metaphor for how cloth can soak in water, holding so much and only letting a trickle out--perhaps her feelings now? Very well done.
DeleteBrittney: This is extremely clever, and your poem reads perfectly--I would have never known it wasn't a complete poem. I like the idea that this is a happy memory of hers, a 'little moment' of pure happiness before pain and loss, good and evil. It's really well done and so interesting to read!
Monica Guajardo:
ReplyDeleteO beautiful O graceful one (221)
I used to weave crowns (255)
sweet mother I cannot work the loom/I am broken with longing for a boy by slender Aphrodite (203)
hand cloths/purple/she sent from Phokaia/ valuable gifts (201)
and with delicate woven cloths covered her up well (199)
I chose these lines from the book because for me they formed a picture of a young girl that cannot possibly do her chores (weaving crowns) due to her wanting a boy from Aphrodite. She is telling her mother that she "cannot work the loom" and being quite dramatic because Aphrodite hasn't sent her a lover. She dresses in the purple woven cloths to try to attract attention from anyone Aphrodite might send her way. I think of this as a funnier poem in a way. We all long for someone but they will come when we are ready, the girl is just trying to speed it up.
excellent work--I love how you gave more context to those lines "sweet mother I cannot work the loom." You made this much more of a story and a characterization, so we can relate to it a little better. I also love how you made the lines about clothing make more sense, since she is making them to attract someone. It's very clever and extremely readable--and gives depth to these fragmentary lines.
DeleteBut I am not someone who likes to wound rather I have a quiet mind (245)
ReplyDeleteGathering flowers so very delicate a girl (249)
I used to weave crowns (255)
With angry spreading in the chest to guard against a vainly barking tongue (319)
These four poems spoke to my imagination and created an image of young women who is not who she once used to be. The first poem shows she is rather shy and tends to keep to herself. I feel as if she had something traumatic happen and has yet to recover from it. The second and third poem represent how she used to be a normal girl who was delicate and pure. She would enjoy picking flowers and weave crowns as a hobby. The last poem shows me hatred and anger as the girl suffers some sort of tragedy that will forever change her. The once innocent and sweet girl is holding in something she can not escape. She often reminisces of the times when she was once a care free girl but cannot let her anger go.
Great response! I love how the lines complement and contradict each other, showing a woman who wants to be quiet and thoughtful, but who has been 'broken' by love or a lover. The last two lines are really clever, since the words "I used to weave" suggest that she's changed, and the final line explains why--she can't control herself any longer. Very interesting use of the poems!
DeleteO beautiful O graceful one (221)
ReplyDeletewe shall give, says father (223)
farewell bride farewell much honored bridegroom (237)
full appeared the moon and when they around the altar took their places (311)
a very long farewell to the child of Polyanaktides (313)
I put these five poems together to create the picture of a wedding, and the speaker is a long time friend of the girl that is being given away in marriage. She is happy and excited that her friend is getting married, but she is also sad. She is departing from her friend and giving her away to her new best friend, her husband. She loves her friend very much, but life happens and people grow up, and it is time for her to let her friend go into the new chapter of her life.
This is a very clever response, as it creates an entire little scene--the end of a marriage, with the couple getting ready to depart. I also love how you juxtapose the people speaking with the moon appearing around the altar, which suggests the solemnity of the ritual. It reminds us how important marriage must have been at this time, since it was literally leaving your old life forever to become something new. Great work!
Deleteyou came i was crazy for you. and cooled my mind that burned with longing (101)
ReplyDeleteyou will remember for in our youth did these things we live daring (45)
and lovely laughing oh it puts. the heart in my chest on wings for when i look at you even a moment no speaking is left in me and cold sweat holds me and shaking grips me all greener then grass i am and dead-or almost i seem to me (63)
the story about this poem is its a old couple talking about there memory's and all the good times they had and cherished moments with each other. but the old man is dying as they are talking about there past .
YHelm:
ReplyDeleteMakeup bag
O beautiful O graceful one
Mingles with all kinds of colors
My darling one
Here(once again)
This poem is an ode to the marvelous magic that is makeup. The makeup bag is adored by its user and valued for its contents. Since Sappho's poetry is often mournful or lovesick, a poem dedicated to the an object rather than a person, seemed appropriate.
O beautiful O graceful one (221)
ReplyDeletegathering flowers so delicate a girl (249)
Stand to face me beloved
and open out the grace of your eyes(281)
mingled with all kinds of colors (307)
These lines to me work really well because they describe someone so beautifully. It makes me think of someone gathering flowers to smell them and their eyes and face lighting up because they smell good and they are beautiful. It also makes me think of a little flower girl throwing out little pedals during a wedding ceremony and the bride and groom are looking at each other in the eyes.
William Carter
ReplyDeleteYou like a goddess and in your song most of all she rejoiced (191)
And with delicate woven cloths covered up her well (199)
Handcloths purple she sent from Phokaia valuable gifts (201)
Of all stars the most beautiful (213)
This poem may not be much but to me, it does tell about a possible Middle Eastern American female that may be close to you. She may be an immigrant that came from Yemen to America to escape death from terrorists. It is just one example, though. The mind sparkles with possibilities of imagination at who this really is. That's what this poem is all about: imagination!
My darling one(329)
ReplyDeleteStand to face me beloved and open out the grace of your eyes(281)
These things now for my companions I shall sing beautifully(323)
Someone will remeber us I say even in another time(297)
I chose these lines because it reminds of a time I saw a couple sitting on the bench at the park. The guy was sitting next to lady on the bench, a few moments later he is on his knee pulling out a ring. While there is music playing in the back ground he is expressing her love to her. Geese everywhere and anyone who was walking or running the park stopped to watch and clap for the newlyweds.
Guard her bridegrooms kings of cities (325)
ReplyDeletelady Dawn (317)
gathering flowers so delicate a girl (249)
girl sweetvoiced (309)
I chose these lines because they made sense to me. In this version of the story, a beautiful girl, an innocent girl with a sweet and gentle voice should be protected. This girl who has done nothing wrong, but is delicate like the flowers she gathers and speaks gently to those who might yell. She should be cherished, held, protected from the bad in the world. Growing up, almost every girl wants to be a princess and treated like lady Dawn.
my darling one (329)
ReplyDeletedo not move stones(293)
but me you have forgotten(129A, 263)
for you beautiful ones my thought(83)
is not changeable
I chose these lines because I would like to thing that Sappho is a very strong willed woman who does not live her life to please people or to make people feel comfortable. So. in this poem I would like to think that she is telling someone that is upset with Sappho because she is doing something for herself and not to please others. Sappho is saying something along the lines of "don't get mad, have you forgotten, I will not change for you."
ReplyDeleteQ1:
Lady Dawn (157, 317)
Of all stars the most beautiful (Poem 104A, Page 213)
O beautiful O graceful one (Poem 108, Page 221)
May you sleep on the breast of your delicate friend (Poem 126, Page 257)
Or you love some man more than me (Poem 129B, Page 263)
I want to say something but shame prevents me (Poem 137, Page 279)
I chose these lines from If Not, Winter because it depicts Sappho and a lover NOT getting their happily ever after. I chose to do this because just like Sappho I didn’t want to write things the same way others do (writing about war like men did back in her day). In my poem she is in love with Lady Dawn who she thinks is the most beautiful women and Lady Dawn loves women and men (She is Bisexual). Sappho wants Lady Dawn but Lady Dawn wants another man. Sappho is so sad and wants to express her feelings but she feels so much shame. Sappho doesn’t get her happily ever after.
Jaspen C.
ReplyDeleteMy darling one (329)
girl sweet voiced (309)
here now tender grace and Muses with beautiful hair (261)
mingled with all kinds of colors (307)
stand to face me beloved and open out the grace of your eyes. (281)
I choose these lines because it is almost as if Sappho is trying to tell another girl that she likes her. Sappho wants her to see and feel the same about Sappho.
Brooklyn Barnes
ReplyDeleteWhere are you gone leaving me behind? (233)
May you farewell bride (239)
But if you love us (247)
I might go (351)
I chose these lines because in my perspective the groom wants to know why his bride is leaving but he wishes her farewell but says if she loves them together he may go with her because he loves her.