Sappho

Sappho is the most celebrated lyric poet of antiquity. Known as the 'Tenth Muse,' her work focused on personal emotion, love, and desire with an intensity that was unprecedented in her time. Though much of her output survives only in fragments, the quality of her remaining lines is so high that she remains a primary influence on lyric poetry. Her work is celebrated for its musicality, its directness, and its honest exploration of human longing.

She is a foundational figure for any poet working within the tradition of the personal, emotional lyric.