Ithaka (Constantine Cavafy)
When you On the way to Ithaca,
want it to be a long road,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
At Lestrygonians and the Cyclops, the angry Poseidon
not fear, Such
never find your way, if you keep
high thinking and emotion
select your spirit and your body enticing.
At Lestrygonians and the Cyclops, wild Poseidon
not find,
if not carry them within your soul, your soul
if not placed before you.
like to make it a long way.
there be many summer mornings
that with what joy, what joy you will enter ports
never seen before,
you stop at Phoenician marts, and acquires
valuables
pearl and coral, amber and ebony, and perfumes
sensual of all kinds, many more perfumes
sexy can,
go to cities of Egypt, to many,
learn and learn from the learned.
Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
The arrival there is your destiny.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
Better if it lasts for years, and now old
stop at the island, rich with all
gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to give you wealth.
Ithaka gave you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have set out.
But it has more to give.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka will not deceive you.
so wise as I did, with so much experience, and understand what they mean
the Ithaca
Constantine Cavafy
Greek poet born in Alexandria. Egypt (1863), where he spent most of his life.
key figure in Greek literature of the twentieth century. Relentless self-criticism, often affected by his own heterodoxy, Cavafy published little during his life. He rejected the traditional values \u200b\u200bof Christianity, the heterosexual ethic, nationalism and patriotism. Cavafy created a personal style, something solemn and archaic, mixed with the Greek of his time. In his verses make up the Hellenistic and Byzantine history with contemporary issues, as in two of his best known poems, 'The god abandons Antony' and 'Ithaca', written in 1911.
Cavafy's work became known outside Greece through the references of EM Forster's study of Alexandria, Alexandria: History and Guide (1923).
Since 1930 his influence was important not only in young Greeks, but also foreign writers, and from this time the critical writings on his work are increasing.
A new push Cavafy's work took place with the publication of the Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell (1957-1960). He died in 1933
PD / Ithaca is a beautiful poem, and our road is long and full of adventure ... Freyja
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