Mary Barnard

Mary Ethel Barnard (December 6, 1909 – August 25, 2001) was an American poet, biographer and Greek-to-English translator. She is known for her elegant rendering of the works of Sappho, a translation which has never gone out of print. Quotes I wanted to hearSappho’s laughterand the speech ofher stringed shell.What I heard waswhiskered mumble-ment of grammarians:Greek pterodactylsand Victorian dodos. "Static". Collected Poems (Portland, OR: Breitenbush, 1981) p. 64 Sappho: A New Translation (1958) University of California Press Dapple-throned Aphrodite,eternal daughter of God,snare-knitter! "Prayer to my lady of Paphos" [Fr. 1 Voigt] Some say a cavalry corps,some infantry, some, again,will maintain that the swift oarsof our fleet are the finestsight on dark earth; but I saythat whatever one loves, is. "To an army wife, in Sardis" [Fr. 16 Voigt] Like a hyacinth inthe mountains, trampledby shepherds untilonly a purple stainremains on the ground. "Lament for a maidenhead" [Fr. 105b Voigt] Hesperus, you herdhomeward whateverDawn’s light dispersedYou herd sheep—herdgoats—herd childrenhome to their mothers. "You are the herdsman of evening" [Fr. 140 Voigt] External links Category:1909 births Category:2001 deaths Category:Poets from the United States Category:Translators from the United States Category:Women authors from the United States