For I am dying of such love....

Sappho was an Ancient Greek poet born on the island of Lesbos (yes, I'm not kidding, Lesbos).  Was she a lesbian?  Who knows?   Does it matter?  No.

She was born sometime between 630 and 612 BC and it is said that she died around 570 BC but little is known about her life.

The bulk of her poetry was well known and greatly admired.  Her immense reputation has endured through surviving fragments of her poetry.

The first time I heard her poetry was on the show "Xena Warrior Princess".  Xena made reference to her on the Season 6 show entitled "Many Happy Returns".  I'm not 100% sure it is an actual Sappho poem, but I'm thinking it must be.  Many of her poems that have survived have been translated.

Xena got Sappho to write Gabrielle a poem for her birthday.  It is one of the most beautiful pieces of poetry I have ever heard and I hope you enjoy it too.



There's a moment when I look at you

and no speech is left in me.

My tongue breaks.

Then fire races under my skin and I tremble

and go pale;

for I am dying of such love.

Or, so it seems to me.