Wild Friday at Poets United

I am jumping back in to be part of Wild Friday over at Poets United.   Thank you, Sanaa!     

I owe a lot of you a visit...more of that for the next post.  The prompt is to finish this poem that is written by Sappho.

  In a world dominated by men, it was rare to see a woman in ancient times to wield such power in writing. Sappho's songs were regarded as outstanding, so revered was she that the people of those times referred to her as the "Tenth Muse," and her songs were passed down over centuries inspiring generations of Poets, none of whom managed to replicate her command of metre and sensual artistry.

So, where did Sappho come from? Her estimated birth date places her sometime after the composition and transmission of the works of the Homeric Poets, which told stories of the Trojan War and are preserved in the epics known as the 'Iliad,' and the 'Odyssey.' 

In my eyes he matches the gods 

In my eyes he matches the gods, that man who

sits there facing you--any man whatever--

listening from close by to the sweetness of your

          voice as you talk, the

sweetness of your laughter: yes, that--I swear it--

sets the heart to shaking inside my breast, since

once I look at you for a moment, I can't

          speak any longer,

but my tongue breaks down, and then all at once a

subtle fire races inside my skin, my

eyes can't see a thing and a whirring whistle

          thrums at my hearing,

cold sweat covers me and a trembling takes

a hold of me all over: I'm greener than the

grass is and appear to myself to be little

          short of dying.

But all must be endured, since even a poor [

Which brings me to question: what could have been the conclusion? What more could have been said? The fact that the poem is incomplete leaves much to be contemplated and adds a certain level of mystery. I remember reading and re-reading this poem and each time marveling at the possibility of there having been at least one more stanza in completing it. 

So, for our first Wild Friday at Poets United, I invite you to write poetry and offer the following two options:

1) Find a poem which is also incomplete and write a response poem that works like an ending for your choice.

                                                       

2) Or if you don't feel like finding a different poem then use Sappho's.

"But all must be endured, since even a poor {

arrow lingers in moon's shadows

inflicting vapid amnesia}

 penumbra's fringe intersects indigo veil

as wild scarlet flames glow

 while the sea caresses 

Earth's brown shoulders

beads of  sweat glistens like

morning dew

  French kiss lingers

on proud majestic peaks

 sweet salt intersects 

 bridge opens

tide rises 

Moon's embryo

tugs your gravity

 ego's waves ripple 

 gently fall

as your breath surges 

indigo surf curves, cascades and falls

your grey eyes fluent 

in mooring possibilities. 

©Ella Wilson

Evie S.