I paused, staring at the sea ahead of me—bleak, bottomless, and breathtaking in its scope. My memories filtered through my mind in a similar fashion; they, too, had no happy ending. The words caught in a notch in my throat; was it truly a story worth telling? A story better left in the depths of a bottomless abyss? Then her hand squeezed mine, warmth streamed through her fingertips into my own, and the story spilled out.

As I speak, Cytherean
Venus is leading her dance
troupe in the dead of night;
likewise, as befits them, the
Graces hand in hand with
the Nymphs knock the earth
with their steps…

In 2018, the Classical world shifted with the introduction of a new translation of Homer’s Odyssey, the timeless Greek tale of journey, loss, hope, and more than a few mythical misadventures. Dr. Emily Wilson, professor and department chair of Classical Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, brought a new perspective to her translation that resonated with audiences around the world. Read here our exclusive interview with Dr. Wilson which was conducted during her recent visit to UC San Diego!

Sappho, well—she worries there’s no one left to read her work.

An Ekphrastic Poem by Tyler Olcese