The part that I didn’t discard (still clumsy but ok)

exhale the history and it a bent branch anyway.
melted, scarred by the fire
We strain the limits of our visions,
try to master the pale rose paintbrush
with our hands all of stone.

Inspiration required breadth

yadda yadda.

You know, to be honest, I don’t know Sappho’s poetry all that well. The only stuff I know is referenced through Rexroth, who I really like (you can see why; I kind of write like him, but watered down a bit).

I suppose I’d just start from the basics. I have a feeling it’s pretty easy material. A lot of her stuff is referenced to the erotic in modern times — and the word lesbian is based off the island she’s from, Lesbos. The word Sapphic is also attributed to that same lesbianism.

The bottom line is that it’s love poetry so if that’s your bag, look it up, otherwise…assume it’s pretty sappy stuff!

Other than that, you and I know about the same amount of info.

AND. Thank you so much for letting me put your photos up. I’m getting a good feel for your style. It was a fluke a few years ago that led me to you.

D.