#josephine balmer

[petaltexturedskies]

Sappho, from Sappho: Poems & Fragments (tr. Josephine Balmer)

[seastares]

To general readers, it might seem disquieting that any translation of an ancient text is not definitive; that what they read in a published volume might not be static, monolithic, fixed. For a translator, too, it is sometimes difficult to have to accept that, having taken hours and hours of research and reading, of poring over a difficult and already disputed text, not to mention agonising over semantic choices in the target language, a translation might no longer be valid or, worst of all, no longer correct. Yet there can be pleasures in this sinuous, ever-flowing art. More than ever, translation becomes part of the dialogue. Translation moves the text forwards. As I wrote in my 2013 study 'Piecing Together The Fragments', 'it is through translation that ancient fragments can revive their dead, silent language...translation can go further into scholarship's uncharted regions, unperturbed by the unknown'.

'The New Fragments: Texts, Translations and Retranslations', Poems & Fragments, Sappho, translated by Josephine Balmer

[henry-fox-biggest-stan]

I'm sorry but "Sappho wannabe" is the BEST first impression I've had of anyone ever

Thanks! And is 100% true.

I’m obsessed with her, she’s actually my favorite writer.

[slips-of-sappho]

Fragment 31

Sappho, from ‘Poems & Fragments’, tr. Josephine Balmer

[eldrbenway]

"In sleep, she looked at me through her soul's clear eyes" – Sappho (Poems and Fragments, translated by Josephine Balmer).

Mahiro Tadai's beauty radiates like a soft, eternal flame. Her elegance captivates—want to see more images of her? ❤️✨💫

[beebooks]

which translation do i prefer though? hard to say still. to begin with, and i believe i've expressed this before, i didn't always see the point in including the originals alongside the translation in if not winter, but having read some more now, i kinda get it. the choice to leave in space where there is text missing i've also grown a bit more fond of. at times, yes, it felt like a pretentious annoyance, but without it i'm left wondering where the translator has added and shuffled things to make the poem read more coherent and to cover over what is gone

mary barnard's translation takes the path of making "completed" poems out of every fragment she includes, but when i know the fragments are rarely that complete it makes me wonder where the gaps that have been covered over are

josephine balmer strikes a bit of a middle ground by having the poems read more naturally and complete than a lot of anne carson's while putting her "additions" or conjectures in brackets so the reader knows what is actually present in the fragments and what is the author taking poetic liberties

alll comes down to what the various translators aim to do and what the readers want. anne carson has included all fragments, even if all you can make out is a single word, while the other two have chosen to include more complete fragments and quotes and then tried to capture the essence and intentions of sappho in how they format the poems

each to their own, and there's certainly a lot to gain from the different translations

[the-sinking-garden]

late night thinking

sappho, josephine balmer translation // the pond-moonlight by edward steichen // genius lyric descriptions of last words of a shooting star by mitski // myself // myself // angela lane // fiona apple // u/eliteguardian16 // aphrodite made me do it by trista mateer

[mythologer]

FORGET GREEK POETS:

PRAXIL (Praxilla)

He was a Greek poet from the 5th century BC. In Sion or Sione in the Peloponnese. He composed short lyric poems 'skolia' (σκόλι ον) sung at ancient Greek banquets; author of hymns and ditiramos (lyrical compositions dedicated to Dionysus). It is known that classical myths have their own versions and their measurements are original. I would invent the typewriter metro: praxilium.

For political reasons, the Dionysian rites and tragic choir performances and ditiramos were moved to the city of Praxila in the 6th century BC, where one of the largest theaters in Ancient Greece was located. Its ruins can be visited even today. Legend has it that this theater is evidence of the birth of tragedy. Inside was a bronze statue of Praxila, carved by Lisipo, also natural from Sion. There is a marble copy in the Berlin Museum, but without the head. His head is cut off, just like his poems and hymns...

We know that he was known and famous for the statements of writers like Aristophanes in his time, he was quoted twice in his works "Aspas" and "Tesmoforias", so the public knew him. But he is remembered by his contemporaries not for the theater, but for what some consider his stupidity or stupidity. There is a fragment of 3 verses quoted by philologists and historians. Part of his answer when asked what is the most beautiful thing God has left, named "Adonis in the Underworld". Then the late Adonis answers:

"The most beloved thing I have left is sunshine,

then bright stars and moon face

and ripe cucumbers and apples and pears."

Praxila's reputation was in question. There was so much truth in the reading of time. Don't confuse cucumbers with stars, in poetry or thought. That's why it became synonymous with the word stupid and tasteless, Zenobio's words, "more stupid than Praxila's Adonis."

According to Josephine Balmer, in Classical Female Poets, "a cucumber can be considered a perfect symbol of the male fertility god." Adonis was an ancient nature god, so he was connected to the plant world.

Centuries later, Antipater of Thessaloniki repaired the damage done to Praxila, as he was declared one of the 9 earthly muses.

Text: Marian A. Alastruey

[mylittleliterarycorner]

Love shook my heart like the wind on the mountain rushing over the oak trees Beautiful women, my feelings for you will never falter I tell you: in time to come, someone will remember us.

Sappho, c600 BC Taken from Sappho’s Poems and Fragments (trans Josephine Balmer. London, Brilliance Books 1984).

[eclectichellhole]

Read fragments of Erinna's Distaff translated by Josephine Balmer and I need to go lay down. 2000 year old poem written by a teenager and I cannot emotionally handle it

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“Woman’s Forgiveness Gains Man’s Freedom,” Toronto Star. November 17, 1932. Page 2. ----- He Is Bonded on Turning Over His Liquor Permit and Pocket Knife ---- Michael Nichaelow gave up his liquor permit and also a pocket knife in women’s court to-day. On these evidence of his good faith, Magistrate Patterson remanded him for sentence on a charge of assaulting and beating Josephine Browne, colored. Two independent witnesses testified in her behalf, but Josephine refused to press the charge. Mike, she told defence counsel W. B. Horkins, was a good man. She was a good woman and wanted to go back to him. Mike was bound over. He must leave liquor alone.

Stockingless, Margaret Balmer was charged with being drunk and was remanded for sentence.

Must Appear To-Morrow As Alberta Patterson had a nervous breakdown recently, she couldn’t appear to-day in women’s police court to answer a charge of doing malicious damage to property. David Patterson, also charged, was present.

Counsel for the accused woman produced a doctor’s certificate dated Nov. 2, and saying she should be well enough to attend court in a week.

‘Have the doctor here to-morrow,’ the court decided, issuing a warrant, returnable tomorrow, for the woman’s arrest.

Luca De Marco was remanded till Nov. 21 in custody for sentence on a serious charge.

[petaltexturedskies]

(I was dreaming of you but) just then Dawn, in her golden sandals (woke me)

Sappho, from Sappho: Poems & Fragments (tr. by Josephine Balmer)

[softromanticwanderer]

Instagram: alaswrites

[rmscarpathia]

SAPPHO FRAGMENT 130 TRANSLATIONS COMPILATION: 1) Original / 2) Josephine Balmer / 3) Jim Powell / 4) Julia Dubnoff / 5) A.S. Kline / 6) Andrew M. Miller / 7) Reddit Commenter / 8) Gillian Spraggs / 9) Diane J. Rayor / 10) Anne Carson

[lifeinpoetry]

What do you

want of me when you cruelly tear me apart, when you shake me with desire that saps the strength from my limbs …?

       … I wish you… … might suffer this [torment too] …                                            … I myself know it [to be true] ….

— Sappho, from #122 (”Cypris Song”), tr. Josephine Balmer, Poems & Fragments: new expanded edition

[beebooks]

mary barnard's translation not including the lobel & page fragment numbering is very annoying to me because it makes it hard to look up the poems to compare with the other books, so i'm happy josephine balmer included a key