TODAY’S GAY WISDOM
The Wit and Wisdom of Dame Elizabeth Taylor:
Big girls need big diamonds. Elizabeth Taylor
Everything makes me nervous – except making films. Elizabeth Taylor
I adore wearing gems, but not because they are mine. You can’t possess radiance, you can only admire it. Elizabeth Taylor
I am a very committed wife. And I should be committed too – for being married so many times. Elizabeth Taylor
I don’t pretend to be an ordinary housewife. Elizabeth Taylor
I don’t think President Bush is doing anything at all about AIDS. In fact, I’m not sure he even knows how to spell AIDS. Elizabeth Taylor
I feel very adventurous. There are so many doors to be opened, and I’m not afraid to look behind them. Elizabeth Taylor
I fell off my pink cloud with a thud. Elizabeth Taylor
I have a woman’s body and a child’s emotions. Elizabeth Taylor
I really don’t remember much about Cleopatra. There were a lot of other things going on. Elizabeth Taylor
I suppose when they reach a certain age some men are afraid to grow up. It seems the older the men get, the younger their new wives get. Elizabeth Taylor
I sweat real sweat and I shake real shakes. Elizabeth Taylor
I’m a survivor – a living example of what people can go through and survive. Elizabeth Taylor
I’ve always admitted that I’m ruled by my passions. Elizabeth Taylor
I’ve been through it all, baby, I’m mother courage. Elizabeth Taylor
SOME POEMS OF SAPPHO
Translated By Julia Dubnoff
Immortal Aphrodite, on your intricately brocaded throne,
child of Zeus, weaver of wiles, this I pray:
Dear Lady, don’t crush my heart
with pains and sorrows.
5 But come here, if ever before,
when you heard my far-off cry,
you listened. And you came,
leaving your father’s house,
yoking your chariot of gold.
10 Then beautiful swift sparrows led you over the black earth
from the sky through the middle air,
whirling their wings into a blur.
Rapidly they came. And you, O Blessed Goddess,
a smile on your immortal face,
15 asked what had happened this time,
why did I call again,
and what did I especially desire
for myself in my frenzied heart:
“Who this time am I to persuade
20 to your love? Sappho, who is doing you wrong?
For even if she flees, soon she shall pursue.
And if she refuses gifts, soon she shall give them.
If she doesn’t love you, soon she shall love
even if she’s unwilling.”
25 Come to me now once again and release me
from grueling anxiety.
All that my heart longs for,
fulfill. And be yourself my ally in love’s battle.
16
Some say an army of horsemen,
some of footsoldiers, some of ships,
is the fairest thing on the black earth,
but I say it is what one loves.
5 It’s very easy to make this clear
to everyone, for Helen,
by far surpassing mortals in beauty,
left the best of all husbands
and sailed to Troy,
10 mindful of neither her child
nor her dear parents, but
with one glimpse she was seduced by
Aphrodite. For easily bent…
and nimbly…[missing text]…
15 has reminded me now
of Anactoria who is not here;
I would much prefer to see the lovely
way she walks and the radiant glance of her face
than the war-chariots of the Lydians or
20 their footsoldiers in arms.
32 I have a beautiful daughter
Like a golden flower
My beloved Kleis.
I would not trade her for all Lydia nor lovely…