Point of View

The poem is written from the first-person perspective of the Greek poet Sappho as she speaks directly to her beloved, Philaenis. This point of view mirrors that of the conventional early modern seduction poem, in which a speaker-lover (usually male) attempts to convince his beloved (usually female) to return his affections. The most famous example of this genre is Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress," in which the speaker argues that death swiftly approaches for the young lady and she must make the most of her youth by having sex with him. Donne's Sappho might subscribe to the genre of seduction poetry, but her perspective is an unconventional one: Sappho argues instead that Philaenis must choose her over whatever male lover she might have, because sex between women is more natural and beautiful.

Language and Meaning

The language of "Sappho to Philaenis" is generally accessible...