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Bliss Carman · Sappho: One Hundred Lyrics

Poem 48 of 100 · Book I

Fine woven purple linen

— ✻ —

Fine woven purple linen
I bring thee from Phocæa,
That, beauty upon beauty,
A precious gift may cover
The lap where I have lain.

And a gold comb, and girdle,
And trinkets of white silver,
And gems are in my sea-chest,
Lest poor and empty-handed
Thy lover should return.

And I have brought from Tyre
A Pan-flute stained vermilion,
Wherein the gods have hidden
Love and desire and longing,
Which I shall loose for thee.

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