Introduction
Sappho’s “In My Eyes, He Matches the Gods” is a poem describing emotions regarding a man a speaker loves but cannot be with. The poem is a description of the speaker’s feelings and desires to only have the lover to herself. It also details her heartbreak after seeing her lover with someone else.
The Meaning of the Poem
The poem is about unrequited love and how Sappho holds in high regard her lover. It means that the speaker, Sappho, is in love, but the love cannot be returned. It is also a description of Sappho’s feelings about her lover. He is described as a “god” and “more than a hero” as he can sit behind the speaker (Sappho). The poem illustrates how those we value and love sometimes do not reciprocate the love.
The Author’s Message in the Poem
The message displayed is that the speaker is not comfortable with her lover sitting and speaking intimately with another person. To Sappho, the subject of her love could be taken by a person whose worth is that of a god. The author then explains her emotions every day as she imagines, thinks, and tries to speak with the man she loves (Sappho). She has deep feelings as she emphasizes simple attributes such as speech.
Conclusion
The poem is about unrequited love. Sappho wrote the poem to express feelings to the lover, who cannot return the love as he is engaged with another person. Sappho is devasted and feels jealous as feels that she is the only deserving the love.
Work Cited
Sappho. “In My Eyes He Matches the Gods.” Poets. Web.