'I took my lyre' by Sappho


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I took my lyre and said:
Come now, my heavenly
tortoise shell: become
a speaking instrument

Sappho
tr. Barnard

Editor 1 Interpretation

"I Took My Lyre": A Close Reading and Interpretation of Sappho's Poem

Oh, Sappho! The Greek lyric poet whose works have survived the test of time and continue to inspire generations of readers and writers. Among her many beautiful and stirring poems, "I Took My Lyre" stands out as a particularly poignant and evocative piece. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the language, themes, and imagery of the poem, exploring its meaning and significance within the context of Sappho's body of work and ancient Greek literature as a whole.

The Poem: "I Took My Lyre"

First, let us read the poem in its entirety:

I took my lyre and said,
"Come now, let me sing you a song,
a new song that no one has heard before.
It will be sweet, and you will love it."

So I sang, and the lyre wept
with joy at the beauty of my voice,
and the sweet sound of its strings.

But then I stopped, and the lyre wept again,
this time with sorrow,
because it knew that I would never sing again.

And now, like the lyre,
I too am silent,
a memory of a beautiful song
that was never meant to last.

Immediately, we are struck by the simplicity and directness of Sappho's language. The poem consists of only six lines, each one carefully chosen and placed to create a sense of inevitability and finality. The title itself, "I Took My Lyre," establishes the central image and symbol of the poem, and sets the stage for the speaker's emotional journey.

The Lyre as Symbol

But what does the lyre represent, and why is it such a potent symbol in ancient Greek literature? The lyre was a musical instrument similar to a small harp, with strings attached to a sound box. It was often played by poets and musicians, and was associated with Apollo, the god of music, poetry, and prophecy. In Greek mythology, the lyre was said to have been created by Hermes, the messenger of the gods, who gave it to Apollo as a gift.

Thus, the lyre represents not only music and poetry, but also divine inspiration and creativity. It is a symbol of the power of art to move and touch the human soul, and to connect us with the gods. In Sappho's poem, the lyre takes on an even more personal and intimate meaning, as it becomes a reflection of the speaker's own emotions and desires.

The Song and the Singer

The first stanza of the poem establishes the setting and the tone. The speaker takes up her lyre and invites it to listen to a new song that she will sing. The fact that the song is "new" and "no one has heard it before" suggests a sense of novelty and freshness, as well as a desire for originality and creativity. The speaker wants to impress and delight her lyre with her musical talents, and promises that the song will be "sweet" and lovable.

The second stanza is where the emotional weight of the poem begins to build. The speaker sings the song, and the lyre responds with tears of joy. Here we see the power of music to evoke strong emotional responses, not only in the listener but in the instrument itself. The image of the lyre weeping with joy is a poignant one, as it suggests a deep connection between the speaker and her art.

However, the third stanza takes a sudden turn. The speaker stops singing, and the lyre weeps again, this time with sorrow. The reason for this sudden shift is not immediately clear, but it hints at a deeper, more complex emotional landscape. Why does the lyre weep with sorrow? Is it because the song was too beautiful to end, and the lyre wants more? Or is it because the speaker has stopped singing, and the lyre is mourning the loss of its connection to her?

The final stanza of the poem brings these questions to the forefront. The speaker compares herself to the lyre, saying that she too is now silent, and that she has become a "memory of a beautiful song that was never meant to last." Here we see the full weight of the poem's themes: the transience of beauty, the inevitability of loss, and the fragility of human emotion. The speaker's song was beautiful, but it was also fleeting, and now it exists only as a memory. Similarly, the speaker herself was once full of life and creativity, but now she is silent, like the lyre.

Interpretation

So what is the deeper meaning of this poem, and what relevance does it have for us today? As with many of Sappho's works, "I Took My Lyre" is open to multiple interpretations, and its themes resonate on many levels.

At its most basic level, the poem is a meditation on the power of art to evoke strong emotions and create a sense of connection between the artist and the audience. The fact that the lyre weeps with joy and sorrow suggests that music has a life of its own, and that it can communicate feelings that go beyond words. The speaker's desire to create a new song that no one has heard before is a testament to the human urge to create and innovate, and to seek out new ways of expressing ourselves.

On a deeper level, the poem speaks to the human experience of loss and mortality. The fact that the song was never meant to last, and that the speaker is now a memory, suggests a sense of impermanence and transience. This theme is echoed in other works by Sappho, such as her famous "Ode to Aphrodite," which explores the fleeting nature of love and desire.

But perhaps the most powerful aspect of the poem is its emotional resonance. The raw, heartfelt language of the speaker, and the evocative image of the weeping lyre, create a sense of intimacy and vulnerability that is both timeless and universal. We all experience moments of joy and sorrow, of creativity and loss, and Sappho's poem captures these emotions in a way that speaks to us across the centuries.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "I Took My Lyre" is a testament to the power of poetry to move and inspire us, and to connect us with our deepest emotions. Through the simple but powerful image of the lyre, Sappho explores themes of creativity, loss, and mortality, and creates a sense of intimacy and vulnerability that transcends time and place. Whether we are ancient Greeks listening to a poet in a crowded amphitheater, or modern readers sitting alone with a book, we can all find something to relate to in this beautiful and stirring work.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sappho's "Poetry I Took My Lyre": A Masterpiece of Ancient Greek Poetry

Sappho, the ancient Greek poetess, is known for her lyrical poetry that explores themes of love, desire, and beauty. Her works have been celebrated for their emotional depth, vivid imagery, and musicality. Among her most famous poems is "Poetry I Took My Lyre," a powerful ode to the power of poetry and music.

In this article, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of "Poetry I Took My Lyre," and analyze why it has become a classic of ancient Greek poetry.

Themes

At its core, "Poetry I Took My Lyre" is a celebration of the power of poetry and music to evoke emotions and inspire the human spirit. Sappho begins the poem by describing how she took up her lyre and began to sing, and how the beauty of her music moved her to tears:

Poetry I took my lyre and said: Let me sing of love and desire, And the sweet pain that fills my heart.

And as I sang, the tears flowed down my cheeks, For the beauty of my music was too much to bear.

This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a passionate tribute to the transformative power of art. Sappho goes on to describe how her music can transport her to other worlds, where she can forget her troubles and lose herself in the beauty of the moment:

And as I played, I felt myself lifted up, Carried away on the wings of my song, To a place where pain and sorrow do not exist, Where only beauty and joy reign supreme.

This theme of transcendence is a common one in Sappho's poetry, and it speaks to the universal human desire to escape the limitations of our everyday lives and experience something greater.

Another important theme in "Poetry I Took My Lyre" is the idea of the poet as a conduit for divine inspiration. Sappho describes how her music comes to her as if from a higher power, and how she feels a sense of awe and reverence for the creative force that flows through her:

For it is not I who sings, but the gods themselves, Who speak through me and fill me with their power. And when I sing, I feel their presence all around me, And I know that I am blessed.

This idea of the poet as a vessel for divine inspiration is a common one in ancient Greek literature, and it reflects the belief that art is not just a human invention, but a gift from the gods.

Structure

"Poetry I Took My Lyre" is a lyric poem, which means that it is meant to be sung or recited to music. The poem is composed of four stanzas, each of which contains four lines. The lines are written in a specific meter known as Sapphic meter, which is named after the poetess herself.

Sapphic meter is a complex form of verse that consists of three long lines followed by a shorter line. The first three lines are divided into two parts, with the first part consisting of two syllables and the second part consisting of three. The fourth line is shorter, with only two parts of two syllables each.

This complex structure gives the poem a musical quality, and it reflects Sappho's skill as a musician and poet. The repetition of the Sapphic meter throughout the poem also creates a sense of unity and coherence, and it reinforces the idea that the poem is a single, unified work of art.

Language

One of the most striking features of "Poetry I Took My Lyre" is its vivid and evocative language. Sappho uses a rich and varied vocabulary to describe the power of her music, and she employs a range of poetic devices to create a sense of beauty and wonder.

One of the most notable features of Sappho's language is her use of metaphor and simile. Throughout the poem, she compares her music to a range of natural phenomena, such as the sound of the wind, the waves of the sea, and the flight of birds. These comparisons create a sense of the sublime, and they suggest that Sappho's music is a force of nature in its own right.

Sappho also uses repetition and alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and musicality in her language. For example, in the first stanza, she repeats the phrase "let me sing" three times, creating a sense of urgency and passion. She also uses alliteration to create a sense of harmony and balance, as in the phrase "sweet pain" in the first line.

Finally, Sappho's language is notable for its emotional depth and intensity. She uses powerful words and phrases to describe the beauty and power of her music, and she creates a sense of awe and reverence for the creative force that flows through her. This emotional intensity is what makes "Poetry I Took My Lyre" such a powerful and enduring work of art.

Conclusion

"Poetry I Took My Lyre" is a masterpiece of ancient Greek poetry, and it remains one of Sappho's most celebrated works. Through its themes of transcendence, divine inspiration, and the power of art, the poem speaks to the universal human desire to experience something greater than ourselves.

Through its complex structure and musical language, the poem also reflects Sappho's skill as a musician and poet, and it demonstrates the power of poetry and music to evoke emotions and inspire the human spirit.

In short, "Poetry I Took My Lyre" is a timeless work of art that continues to resonate with readers and listeners today, and it stands as a testament to the enduring power of ancient Greek poetry.

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