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VIII. Her Leaving

FRAGMENTS 94 I truly wish for death. In her leaving she wept Endless tears and said "Oh how we are tortured, Sappho, you must know I leave unwillingly" And my reply: "Know joy, go on and remember, Remember how we adore you. Or if not, remember The joyous beauty we shared, Wreathed in violets, With roses at your side, Sweet dill around your throat, Heavy scented oils Anointing your sweet skin And on a pillowy bed Letting loose your sweetness And how there was never shrine Nor holy place ever erected for our loss No garden No ritual No music"
Translation Key Mary Barnard Julia Dubnoff Danika Lorèn
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