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Poetry
by Chris Zachariou
United Kingdom


Τάκης Ζαχαρίου

Ποιήματα

Γιαλούσα, Κύπρος

Writer's pictureChris Zachariou

Sappho and Gongyla | A Tribute to Sappho


I loved you in the passion

of the summer months

yet the kiss of March

still danced in your eyes.


You smiled; I was beguiled.

Desire swelled inside me

and fever burned my thighs.

Each day under cerulean skies we swam in the whispers of the sea.

Waves were rushing to the shore

to secret coves and fair sand dunes

and I was consumed by madness.


I bathed you in myrrh,

I caressed your auburn hair

and kissed the longing in your eyes.


My hands quivered. My knees weakened.

My body shook with lust.


I removed your lacy garments

and loved you with the lust of one in haste

then lingered on your thighs all my life.


I was insane

by the allure of innocence

and hunger for your youth.


In exquisite nights of summer our flesh became one

and nothing was forbidden in our quest for pleasure.


But I lost you in the autumn winds.

Your gown lies orphaned in my bed

and it fills my world with sadness.


The cold November days are looming

and from beyond the misty mountains

the mournful River Acheron beckons me to go.


Read A short biography of Sappho the ancient world's greatest poet


This poem is part of the Sappho collection of poems


A few words about the poem…


A Tribute to Sappho - The Universal Pain of Love and Loss

 

A poem that depicts a tender relationship between two women, exploring the theme of love and loss and the universality of heartbreak, regardless of gender. It is a reminder that the pain of losing a loved one is a shared experience that can leave us feeling alone and lonely. This poetic tribute to Sappho invites us to reflect on the nature of love and its ability to bring both joy and sorrow. and that loss is a part of the human experience.

 

As Sappho reaches old age without someone to love and be loved by, her loneliness is palpable. One can only imagine the life she has lived, lost in the pain of the loss of her love. The poem's themes of love and loss are timeless and relatable, reminding us that the capacity to love is what makes us human. Sappho's loneliness is a poignant reminder that life can be unpredictable and that we must cherish those we love while we have them.

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