Cyprian, in my dream
July 6, 2023Before they were mothers
July 6, 2023Cleis
Sleep, darling
I have a small
daughter called
Cleis, who is
like a golden
flower
I wouldn’t
take all Croesus’
kingdom with love
thrown in, for her
—
Don’t ask me what to wear
I have no embroidered
headband from Sardis to
give you, Cleis, such as
I wore
and my mother
always said that in her
day a purple ribbon
looped in the hair was thought
to be high style indeed
but we were dark:
a girl
whose hair is yellower than
torchlight should wear no
headdress but fresh flowers
Sappho
Sappho (c. 630 BCE - c. 570 BCE) was an ancient Greek poet who is known for her lyric poetry and her depiction of love and desire between women. She was highly regarded in her time and her works continue to be celebrated as masterpieces of Greek literature.