THOU liest dead, and there will be no memory left behind
Of thee or thine in all the earth, for never didst thou bind
The roses of Pierian streams upon thy brow; thy doom
Is now to flit with unknown ghosts in cold and nameless gloom.
Notes
This English translation, by Edwin Arnold, of 'To One Who Loved Not Poetry' is reprinted from Greek Poets in English Verse. Ed. William Hyde Appleton. Cambridge: The Riverside Press, 1893
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Solemn. It holds that quiet calm feel to it and doesn't hold back from it. But it is strong in its short wording. It's, as I said, quiet and solemn.
A good piece by Sappho.
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In Greek mythology the nine Muses presided over arts and science. They were born in Pieria, at the foot of Mount Olympus, and are sometimes called the “Pierides”. Metaphorically, a muse is a source of inspiration. Thus, “roses of Pierian streams” would be things of beauty fed by the Muses and in the context of Sappho’s poem would mean poetry.
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An interesting piece, certainly...of course since I don't know much about Greek history, I'm not quite sure what Pierian streams are but I assume it has something to do with death. All in all, a very gloomy and dismal piece, though it is definitely a nice one.
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