On nameless sorrow’s churchyard pillow.

(The Atlantic Monthly, Oct. 1858)

Samuel Latham Mitchill (1764-1831) reflects Sappho’s love of the rose in an imaginary dialogue between Sappho and her younger contemporary from Samos, Pythagoras:

PYTHAGORAS AND SAPPHO,
or
THE DIAMOND AND THE ROSE

Long time ago, ’tis well expressed,

Pythagoras the seer

This question artfully addressed

To beauteous Sappho’s ear:

“When hence thou shalt be forced to flee,