Sappho's Isle of Dreams

They sailed the misty, moonlit streams
where you breathed lines of honeydew,
to steal you from your isle of dreams
where Aphrodite cared for you.

(Your beauty-breathing ways so wild
wove words of wonder from your youth,
which softly spoke and sweetly smiled
to those who sought for sacred truth.)

Toward the coast they hurried you
to exile, ‘cross the sea beyond.
A kiss for friends, love’s brief adieu;
with tender tears they did respond.

Hard hearts of hate that wished you harm
did not upset you, not at all!
Your face so fair, completely calm,
serenely shone in Sapphic shawl!

Your baby boy, they let you bring,
along with books and poet’s quill.
(These feathers on a poet’s wing
their hatred dared not curse or kill.)

They stole you from your isle of dreams
where Aphrodite smiled on you:
The goddess girl who glowed and gleamed
while breathing lines of honeydew.