Some men say an army of horse and some men say an army on foot
and some men say an army of ships is the most beautiful thing
on the black earth. But I say it is
what you love.
Easy to make this understood by all.
For she who overcame everyone
in beauty (Helen)
left her fine husband
behind and went sailing to Troy.
Not for her children nor her dear parents
had she a thought, no–
]led her astray
]for
]lightly
]reminded me now of Anaktoria who is gone.
—Sappho (translated by Anne Carson)
—found in If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho (2002; origin ~600 BC)