Was Sappho Exiled for her Poetry or Sexual Politics?

Dear Sappho,

I recently heard that Sappho was once exiled from Lesbos. Why was she in exile? What are some of the political and social dynamics that influenced her life and her poetry?

Why I Left You

Dear Sappho,

I read your post My Girlfriend Left Me with great interest being guilty of such a departure myself, I’d like to tell my side of the story:

I left while you were at work to avoid the drama and the hurt. I left you because you acted like our relationship was a burden to bear instead of a joy to be savored. I left you cause you couldn’t hear me any more, it was like talking into the wind. I left you because I felt lonely when we were together. I left you because you didn’t take our relationship seriously enough. I left abruptly to keep the cut clean and your memory of me sharp.

You want to know why I left you?  I left you for asking why - instead of knowing why. I left you because I love you too much to make you suffer my neurosis and expectations about love. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just wanted to wake you up. I didn’t realize you’d go on to fall in love with someone else so quickly. Now that you have, I’m sure I did the right thing, although please know - it did hurt me as much as it hurt you, please forgive me for hurting you.

My Girlfriend Left Me What Should I do?

Dear Sappho,

I thought my lover and I would be together forever, 10 years so far. She recently asked me to marry her again. Last week she left me while I was at work. The night before we made passionate love until midnight when she asked me to make her a favorite meal in spite of me having to be at work 7 AM the next day.

While I was at work she called three times and begged me to come home early. When I arrived home that evening I thought we had been robbed, then I realized that only her stuff was missing. She left me an eight-page letter telling me how much she loved me, was in love with me, and wanted to remain monogamous. I don’t believe her but I desperately want her back. I am confused, angry, hurt and I need some advice, the pain is incredible and I’m not sure how to proceed.

Betrayed

My Girlfriend Is Always Right

Dear Sappho,

My girlfriend thinks she is always right even when she is clearly incorrect. She has to have the last word on everything. I used to think it was cute, but I’m beginning to find it overbearing. I usually go along with her to save trouble but I feel like I’m losing myself. We have been together 7 years, and I have no intention of leaving her, ever. How can I change the communication pattern and get her to have more of a give and take attitude about life?

How We Taught the Graces or Rather How the Graces Taught Us

 Dear Sappho,

I enjoyed your piece on The Social Graces. You explained what you taught and why you taught it, but you did not detail how you actually taught the Graces. The importance of the social graces is obvious, how one accomplishes it is not as obvious. 

Sappho on the Social Graces

Dear Sappho,

Would you go into detail regarding the arts and subjects taught in your school for women and girls on Lesbos? Were there structured classes and standard subjects? Were there personal lesson plans for each student at each level of comprehension? What were considered the most important courses?

Curious Teacher

Invoking Aphrodite

Dear Sappho

Who was Aphrodite and how much power did she have in the ancient world? 
I understand that Sappho invokes Aphrodite in some of her poem fragments. Can you tell me more?

Breaking Through Limitations

Dear Sappho,

I don’t understand why so many GLBTQ people feel limited by their sexual identity. It seems like heterosexuals are really the ones limited to duality and strict gender conformity, whereas GLBTQ people are free to reinvent themselves in new genders and genres.  How about a pep talk for the homo team?

Advocate

Setting Boundaries

Dear Sappho,

My girlfriend is almost always late. For important events she runs 15-20 minutes late, for events she considers unimportant she could be as much as 1-2 hours late. I tell her that it shows lack of consideration and respect, she replies that’s their problem and that she is running her life on her schedule not theirs. Frankly, I’m embarrassed by her behavior, what can I do to get her be on time? I’ve tried everything I can think of.

Same Sex Marriage Rights

 Dear Sappho,

My lover wants to get married and I don’t, she thinks marriage makes sense and that it is the most practical solution to meeting our needs both financially and emotionally I see that it has all the responsibilities without all of the privileges. She has been married before and I have not. I am happy to arrange our financial assets in other ways, such as joint ownership or as a trust, but I am uneasy about the whole archetype of marriage. I’m afraid my lover will leave me if I don’t marry her...

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