July 23, 2003: Difference between revisions
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| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
full of adventure, full of discovery. | full of adventure, full of discovery. | ||
Laistrygonians, Cyclops, | Laistrygonians, Cyclops, | ||
angry Poseidon—don’t be afraid of them: {{ln| | angry Poseidon—don’t be afraid of them: {{ln|5}} | ||
you’ll never find things like that on your way | you’ll never find things like that on your way | ||
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high, | as long as you keep your thoughts raised high, | ||
as long as a rare excitement | as long as a rare excitement | ||
stirs your spirit and your body. | stirs your spirit and your body. | ||
Laistrygonians, Cyclops, {{ln| | Laistrygonians, Cyclops, {{ln|10}} | ||
wild Poseidon-you won’t encounter them | wild Poseidon-you won’t encounter them | ||
unless you bring them along inside your soul, | unless you bring them along inside your soul, | ||
| Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
Hope your road is a long one. | Hope your road is a long one. | ||
May there be many summer mornings when, {{ln| | May there be many summer mornings when, {{ln|15}} | ||
with what pleasure, what joy, | with what pleasure, what joy, | ||
you enter harbors you’re seeing for the first time; | you enter harbors you’re seeing for the first time; | ||
may you stop at Phoenician trading stations | may you stop at Phoenician trading stations | ||
to buy fine things, | to buy fine things, | ||
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony, {{ln| | mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony, {{ln|20}} | ||
sensual perfume of every kind— | sensual perfume of every kind— | ||
as many sensual perfumes as you can; | as many sensual perfumes as you can; | ||
| Line 30: | Line 30: | ||
to learn and go on learning from their scholars. | to learn and go on learning from their scholars. | ||
Keep Ithaka always in your mind. {{ln| | Keep Ithaka always in your mind. {{ln|25}} | ||
Arriving there is what you’re destined for. | Arriving there is what you’re destined for. | ||
But don’t hurry the journey at all. | But don’t hurry the journey at all. | ||
Better if it lasts for years, | Better if it lasts for years, | ||
so you’re old by the time you reach the island, | so you’re old by the time you reach the island, | ||
wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way, {{ln| | wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way, {{ln|30}} | ||
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich. | not expecting Ithaka to make you rich. | ||
Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey. | Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey. | ||
| Line 41: | Line 41: | ||
She has nothing left to give you now. | She has nothing left to give you now. | ||
And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you. {{ln| | And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you. {{ln|35}} | ||
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience, | Wise as you will have become, so full of experience, | ||
you’ll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean. | you’ll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean. | ||
Revision as of 16:18, 13 January 2020
Ithaka
By: C. P. Cavafy (1975)As you set out for Ithaka
hope your road is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops,
angry Poseidon—don’t be afraid of them: 5
you’ll never find things like that on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement
stirs your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops, 10
wild Poseidon-you won’t encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.
Hope your road is a long one.
May there be many summer mornings when, 15
with what pleasure, what joy,
you enter harbors you’re seeing for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stations
to buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony, 20
sensual perfume of every kind—
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
and may you visit many Egyptian cities
to learn and go on learning from their scholars.
Keep Ithaka always in your mind. 25
Arriving there is what you’re destined for.
But don’t hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you’re old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way, 30
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.
Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.
Without her you wouldn’t have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you. 35
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you’ll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.
