Sappho Poetry

I’ve never read Sappho poetry before, so it is rather interesting to me. The poems are full of emotion, passion, and desire. I stress that it is not possible to draw certain conclusions as to whether Sappho’s poetry is a reflection of her own sexual orientation or situation, because we know so little about her as it is. I would like to think it is her own portrayal of her feelings, because her positive presentation of Helen is expressed with a tone that would render her words meaningless if they were not her personal sentiments.

Sappho’s poetry has such clarity and simplicity. Her images are very sharp, such as the sparrows that draw Aphrodite’s chariot and the solitary red apple at the tree-top. I think it is very effective that she quotes the direct words of conversations, real or imaginary, to have immediacy.