Greene uses the results of her argument concerning this fragment to engage Carson’s take on Song 1. Greene offers an alternative read of Sappho’s women’s erotics as one of mutuality based on her analysis of fragment 94 that runs counter to Carson’s analysis of the erotics of Sappho’s songs. Carson maintains that Sappho’s erotics are in line with those of the dominant culture that frames lovers and beloveds as occupying two drastically different roles in a pederastic, homosexual relationship, viz. She is divine and seems to be truly gifted by the gods.Anne Carson and Ellen Greene offer disparate theories of the erotics at work in Sappho’s surviving corpus. Sappho is a sublime poet who tells the tale of what it really feels like to be in love. Although they’ve found some more of her poems over the years – one can dream we’ll find more! Its an annoyance that we’ll have to live with. That it is fragmentary, it means some of the poems are just one line, they just don’t make sense or leave you wanting more. I wish I had read her work sooner! The other positive is Anne Carson also includes quotes people have said about her and notes about some of the poems. It reads well, it shows clearly where the bits are missing but still flows great.
On the left show them in their original Ancient Greek form and then on the right is the translated version.
The poems are exquisite and just enjoyable to read. After my lecturer did 2 sessions on her poetry I wanted to know more – so by her suggestion I got the Anne Carson translation and was definitely not disappointed. Anne Carson translates the fragmentary works from Ancient Greek to English so we can all enjoy the work.Īs a classicist, I have heard Sappho’s name mentioned for so many years – yet I somehow avoided reading her work. Her poems are beautiful, thoughtful, soulful showing her talents of music. The fragmentary collection of one of the best love poets of all time – Sappho from the island Lesbos in the time of the Ancient Greeks. Brackets and space give the reader a sense of what is absent as well as what is present on the papyrus.Ĭarson’s translation illuminates Sappho’s reflections on love, desire, marriage, exile, cushions, bees, old age, shame, time, chickpeas and many other aspects of the human situation. In If Not, Winter, Anne Carson presents all of Sappho’s fragments in Greek and in English. Of the nine books of lyrics Sappho is said to have composed, none of the music is extant and only one poem has survived complete. She was a musical genius who devoted her life to composing and performing songs.
Sappho lived on the Island of Lesbos from about 630BC. The complete extant work of the Greek poet Sappho, in a new translation by Anne Carson. If Not Winter: Fragments of Sappho by Anne Carson
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