poetry

Excerpt from Sappho 31 - Sappho of Lesbos

There’s a moment when I look at you, 

and no speech is left in me, 

my tongue breaks then fire races under my skin and I tremble and grow pale, 

for I am dying of such love or so it seems to me.

tenpo lili ni la mi lukin tawa sina.

toki li weka e mi.

uta mi li pakala. selo mi li seli li walo.

mi moli insa tan olin wawa tawa sina.

pilin mi la, ni li lon.