Friday, September 13, 2019

Wild Friday at Poets United

Welcome to the first Wild Friday at Poets United! Starting today, we will be dedicating the second Friday of the month to topics touched by poetry  — it can be about a particular poem, a poetry book or something that is happening in the poetry world. 

The second Fridays will be wild! I hope to pleasantly surprise you with something that we all will enjoy doing together. On that note let us dive into today's prompt:  

source
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 [


When I first came across and read this poem I was blown away by the intensity of the emotions that adorned each and every word, placed carefully and with such precision so as to capture the reader's attention. 

Sappho's poem puts me in the mind of love, eros and jealousy. The poem as we have it is apparently incomplete as there is the beginning of an additional line at the end ("But all must be endured... ") Most translators have ignored this fragment and concluded with the previous line, but a few modern ones include it.

source
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.


Add the direct link to your poem to Mr Linky. Remember to visit others and to comment on their work. I look forward to reading what you all come up with. Have fun!


25 comments:

  1. Wild Fridays look like being very exciting!

    It takes some temerity to try and fill in for the great Sappho – but I have done it.

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    1. Thank you so much for writing to the prompt, Rosemary!❤️ Heading over to read you! Happy Friday!🍹

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  2. Welcome to Wild Friday at Poets United, everyone!❤️ I look forward to reading what you guys come up with.

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  3. This is a great beginning Sanaa! Yay!!!

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    1. Yayyy!!❤️ Thank you so much, Sumana. Loved your poem!❤️

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  4. Sanaa, my delight echoes Rosemary's and Sumana's feelings. Your Wild Friday is delicious. I like it so much, that I won't even try to strangle you every time I remember how long it took for me to find a poem that would work for my muse, lol!

    Actually, I'm sort of grateful, too. Without your prompt, I would've never found Bill Cattey's page, and I'm really enjoying his writing.

    So... thank you!

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    1. Yayyy!!❤️ Thank you so much, Magaly! I really enjoyed your poem and yes Bill Cattey's writing is something I will definitely look more into! Happy Friday!!😍😍

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  5. Did you know dear wild Sappho is credited with using the "I" personally, not attributing the emotions to Gods and Goddesses? There is no "Aphrodite struck me . . . " in her work. I'm stunned by this wild prompt and will play with thoughts throughout this busy day in an attempt to produce a poem. May we take that "he" into a "she"?

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    1. Yes ofcourse! Looking forward to your poem, Susan ❤️

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  6. Bravo, Sanaa! I am intimidated by Sappho.....but intrigued by the incomplete ending.........I will be away from home this morning, but will be pondering as I drive.........

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    1. Thank you so much, Sherry!😍 Have a wonderful day ahead!❤️

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  7. Sanaa, I am having trouble posting a comment on your site again, will try again later. It is not accepting any combination of log in info. Sigh.

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    1. Sherry, I just received your comment on my blog, it takes a while to appear. Thank you!!❤️

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  8. Sanaa, your Wild Friday is certainly enticing. Looking forward to contributing in the future. I just need to get my calendar in order.

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    1. Thank you so much, Khaya!❤️ Happy Friday!🍹

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  9. Fantastic challenge Sanaa. Love your Wild Friday!

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    1. Yayy!❤️ Thank you so much, Linda 😘 heading over to read you! Happy Friday!🍹

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  10. This is an intimidating prompt -- but I will try! Thanks for telling me about this, Sanaa.

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    1. I look forward to reading what you write, Jenna. Happy Friday!❤️

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  11. Great job Sanaa! You started your Fridays with a bang!

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    1. Yayyy!❤️ And thank you for the poem, Viv! It was amazing!!🍹

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  12. Well, Sanaa, my muse doesn't much like being told what to do and seldom speaks on command. After pondering your prompt this morning, she did offer up a little something this afternoon that I thought sounded like something that could have come about for Sappho and her beloved when all the gods and men were no longer looking. My poem didn't sound very specific to your prompt, so I added a little intro. My muse is as stubborn as my husky mix, so this was the best I could do. Wonderful prompt!

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    1. Thank you so much for writing to the prompt, H!❤️ I love it!🍹

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  13. Wow, this is swoonworthy! Thank you, Sanaa, for sharing her voice with us~ I will visit a few of you tonight and finish up in the morning. I have a huge birthday party tomorrow-you should see my kitchen-lol! My son and daughter in law are 363 days apart..so, big party tomorrow~ Yikes, still have dishes to do. I am thankful I can take poetry breaks between the dish duty! Thanks, again~

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    1. Thank you so much, Ella!❤️ I loved your poem!!😘😘

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