Constantine Cavafy Candles
They're the days to come before us
like a row of lighted candles, golden
, hot and vivid.
left behind the days of old, painful
row of unlit candles:
the nearest smoke damage yet,
cold, defeat, and wrong.
I do not want to see: my heart the way they look,
my heart the memory of their ancient light. And I look forward
lighted candles.
I do not want to turn, I can not see, in a shiver,
as soon as the dark line lengthens,
grow as soon as my unlit candles.
windows In these dark rooms where I live
heavy days, here and there around me to find
windows (
will escape if a window opens). But
windows are not, or do not know
find them. Better not find them maybe.
Maybe it will light another torture.
Who knows what new things will show.
Ithaca When you set out to
Ithaka hope your road is long,
full of adventure and discovery. The
Lestrigoni
and the Cyclops, the angry Neptune do not fear, not
will be 'this kind of meetings
if your thoughts remain lofty, and a feeling
stirs your spirit and your body.
Cyclops, Lestrigoni, not sure, it
'wrath if Neptune hitting
not carry them within your soul if you do not set them up.
Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many
when in port - and now that joy -
you touch the ground for the first time at Phoenician trading
linger and buy
pearl and coral, amber and ebony
all fine merchandise, including perfumes
piercing of all kinds, more 'heady fragrance as you can, go
in many Egyptian cities
learn a thing from the quantities of products.
But do you think of Ithaca -
Arriving there is the constant thought.
But do not hurry the journey;
if it lasts long, for years, and that old
reach the island, you, full of treasures
gained on the way, not expecting Ithaca to riches.
Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage
without her you would have never put on the road
: what else do you expect?
And if you find her poor, Ithaca you will have `disappointed. Without
wise now, with so much experience on
you already have understood what Ithaca is that mean.
On the threshold of coffee
addition, they said something close
I turned on the threshold of coffee.
And I saw, then, the beautiful body,
where self-love was more evidence:
you joyful-fitted molded limbs,
rose, carved, person, emotion
with you to shape the face, leaving
of his tract as an arcane
sense on the forehead, eyes, mouth.
The origin Now their forbidden lust
is consumed. Rise, dress
hurry and do not speak. Hull
stealthy way, separated.
to walk away with a vague uneasiness, almost
suspect in them do not know about that sort of cheating
bed lay a little while ago. But as an artist
is enriched my life!
Tomorrow, tomorrow another, or between years, are the verses written
hale here when they had originally.
He came to read
E 'come to light. Open
two, three books, historians and poets.
He read just for ten minutes. Then just
.
dozing on the couch. It 's all full of his books
- well, has twenty-three years, is very nice.
And this afternoon passed the love
beautiful in the flesh in his mouth.
In his flesh, that all beauty
race the fever of lust. Without hesitation
grotesque form of pleasure ...
Constantine Cavafy was born in Alexandria, Egypt, April 29, 1863 originating from Greek parents in Istanbul.
His family, part of the commercial middle class, suffered financial ruin in 1876 and moved abroad, first to Liverpool, then to Istanbul.
In 1892, Constantine, who already has a good reputation for its work as a publicist and poet, is recruited to the Ministry of Public Works in Alexandria, where he remained, making a quick and profitable career, until 1922.
travels to Paris in 1897 and 1901 in Athens, where he will return also in 1903 and 1905.
in her autobiographical notes speak of an early homosexuality, sometimes psychologically traumatic.
Since 1919, the poet is involved in various controversies, both because famous person and representative for both the Alexandrian and Athenian violent diatribe in which he is among the leaders.
died April 29, 1933 in Alexandria, after a throat suffered in Athens last year.