The works of Sappho, at least those listed in the anthology, all deal very heavily with the pain that is associated with losing a relationship with a loved one. In fact, the first poem listed, 1(L-P) begins with a plea to the gods, “Sparkling-wreathed, O deathless Aphrodite,/daughter of Zeus with your web of cunning, I beg you./please don’t crush my heart with longing,/lady, or anguish”(1-4, 1(L-P)) and later “Come to me now once more, and free me from jagged/sorrow, and make what my heart is/longing for, happen”(25-27). One can see a similar sentiment in the song “Tin Man”, by Miranda Lambert, which is an ode to the fictional character from the Wizard of Oz who famously is searching for his own heart. However, Lambert in this song instead warns the Tin Man of all the trouble that her heart has brought, singing “You shouldn’t spend your whole life wishin’/For something bound to fall apart” and “If you ever felt one breaking/You’d never want a heart”. Both of these works reflect the idea that the loss suffered when their love was no longer reciprocated or was somehow lost made any beneficial experience from that love no longer worth it. Love for both Sappho and Lambert is simply a mechanism for pain and raises the question of why anyone would choose to willingly engage in it.
However, the primary difference between these two pieces is how they choose to move on from this pain. Sappho seems to reflect a somewhat lustful longing in his works, writing “you came, and I was looking for you/and you cooled my breast aflame with lust”(48(L-P)) and “and many woven garlands/made…of blossoms/around your supple neck”(15-17, 94(L-P)). Miranda Lambert, on the other hand, appears to instead wish to retreat away from love altogether, singing “By the way Mr. Tin Man/If you don’t mind the scars/You give me your armor/And you can have my heart”. This is an interesting difference as it shows the two ways people can respond to their heart being broken, whether they choose to pursue a more romantic or sexual relationship.
“Sparkling-wreathed, O deathless Aphrodite,/daughter of Zeus with your web of cunning, I beg you./please don’t crush my heart with longing,/lady, or anguish”(1-4, 1(L-P))
“Come to me now once more, and free me from jagged/sorrow, and make what my heart is/longing for, happen”(25-27)
“you came, and I was looking for you/and you cooled my breast aflame with lust”(48(L-P))
“and many woven garlands/made…of blossoms/around your supple neck”(15-17, 94(L-P))