phainetai moi kênos îsos theoisin
emmen’ ônêr ottis enantios toi
isdanei kai plâsion âdu phonei-
sâs upakouei
He seems to me equal to gods that man
whoever he is who opposite you
sits and listens close
to your sweet speaking
kai gelaisâs îmeroen to m’ êmân
kardiân en stêthesin eptoaisen
ôs gar es s’ idô brokhe’ os me phônai-
s’ oud’ en et’ eikei
and lovely laughing - oh it
puts the heart in my chest on wings
for when I look at you, even a moment, no speaking
is left in me
alla kam men glôssa eâge lepton
d’ autika khrôi pur upadedromâken
oppatessi d’ oud’en orêmm’ epirom-
beisi d’ akouai
no: tongue breaks and thin
fire is racing under skin
and in eyes no sight and drumming
fills ears
kad de m’ idrôs kakkheetai tromos de
paisan agrei khlôrotera de poiâs
emmi tethnakên d’ oligô ‘pideuês
phainom’ em’ autai.
and cold sweat holds me and shaking
grips me all, greener than grass
I am and dead - or almost
I seem to me.
Alla pan tomaton . . .
But all is to be dared, because even a person of poverty
-- Sappho
Translated by Anne Carson
The image of the fragment is from this PDF document, where this poem can be found in the original Greek.
