the judicious application of sappho

]
here to me from Krete to this holy temple
where is your graceful grove
of apple trees and altars smoking
with frankincense

And in it cold water makes a clear sound through
apple branches and with roses the whole place
is shadowed and down from radiant-shaking leaves
sleep comes dropping.

And in it a horse meadow has come into bloom
with spring flowers and breezes
like honey are blowing
[ ]

In this place you Kypris taking up
in gold cups delicately
nectar mingled with festivities:
pour.

~Sappho, Fragment 2, translated by Anne Carson

I am generally fondest of the more fragmentary poems - I like how open they are, how imaginative, how full of possibility - but this one, nearly whole as it is, is especially lovely. It felt right, today.