2.10.07

against the ruins...

Sappho

Fragment 19


]
]waiting
]in sacrifices
]having good
]
]but going
]for we know
]of works
]
]after
]and toward
]says this

Trans. Anne Carson, If Not, Winter / Carson’s use of the bracket “indicates destroyed papyrus or the presence of letters not quite legible somewhere in the line.”

~


William Carlos Williams

The Locust Tree in Flower


Among
of
green

stiff
old
bright

broken
branch
come

white
sweet
May

again


*

For me, there is an intense and universal beauty in pairing these two works. One is fragmented by history and the other by the necessity of reflection.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Carson's translations are beautiful, easily my favorite Sappho trans. - and the book isn't too shabby either.

I love how you've paired these two - obviously speaking to each other across millenia.

ps: great interview - and what a nice picture too!

sam of the ten thousand things said...

I'm amazed at the connection, Melissa. And I appreciate your reading the interview.

Collin Kelley said...

Carson's book of translations are brilliant. I return to it again and again.

sam of the ten thousand things said...

Carson is such a master. Thanks for the read, Collin.