Cleis Poem by Sappho
Cleis
Sleep, darling
I have a small
daughter called
Cleis, who is
like a golden
flower
I wouldn't
take all Croesus'
kingdom with love
thrown in, for her
- -
Don't ask me what to wear
I have no embroidered
headband from Sardis to
give you, Cleis, such as
I wore
and my mother
always said that in her
day a purple ribbon
looped in the hair was thought
to be high style indeed
but we were dark:
a girl
whose hair is yellower than
torchlight should wear no
headdress but fresh flowers
Sappho
tr. Barnard
Very impressive poem. The poet's daughter must have real golden flower. Very beaitifully knitted multiple topics and brought out the poem like a capsule form!
What a touchy poem! I am utterly touched by the language of a lovely mother.
....beautiful poem..love the imagery of purple ribbons - -★
a purple ribbon looped in the hair was thought to be high style indeed You do not need any hairdress. fine poem. tony
very impression and loving poem written- a girl whose hair is yellower than torchlight should wear no headdress but fresh flowers// superb
a girl whose hair is yellower than torchlight should wear no headdress but fresh flowers Beautiful poem
Misunderstood. She is talking to one of her 'girls' leaving to be married. Reference to the daughter is incidental
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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8/7/2026 5:15:31 PM # rel_20260806T081513Z_580e7f4
what sunlight, what youthfulness, what tenderness does not exude from my beloved Sappho?