poetry meant to be sung, not read, back when a poem without a lyre was just talking.
means a genre of ancient greek poetry composed to be performed with musical accompaniment, covering love, war, wine, and grief in the first person.
from named for the lyre it was sung to, flourishing roughly 7th-5th century bce across the greek world, from lesbos to sicily, splitting into solo song (monody) and choral odes performed at festivals and games.
sappho of lesbos — 7th century bce, wrote of desire with unmatched directness
pindar's victory odes — composed for olympic and pythian games champions, 5th century bce
anacreon — court poet famous for wine, boys, and cheerful hedonism
alcaeus of mytilene — sappho's contemporary, wrote political and drinking songs