ITHACA

When you set out on the voyage to Ithaca,

pray that your journey may be long,

full of adventures, full of knowledge.

Of the Laestrygones and the Cyclopes

and the furious Poseidon,do not be afraid,

for such on your journey you will never meet

if your thought remain lofty,if a select

emotion imbue your spirit and your body.

The Laestrygones and the Cyclopes

and furious Poseidon you will never meet

unless you drag them with you in your soul,

unless your soul raises them before you.

Pray that your journey may be long,

that many may those summer mornings be

when with what pleasure,with untold delight

you enter harbors you've not seen before;

that you stop at Phoenician market places

to procure the goodly merchandise,

mother of pearl and coral,amber and ebony,

and voluptuous perfumes of every kind,

as lavish an amount of voluptuous perfumes as you can;

that you venture on to many Egyptian cities

to learn and yet again to learn from the sages.

But you must always keep Ithaca in mind.

The arrival there is your predestination.

Yet do not by any means hasten your voyage.

Let it best endure for many years,

until grown old at length you anchor at your island

rich with all you have acquired on the way.

You never hoped that Ithaca would give you riches.

Ithaca has given you the lovely voyage.

Without her you would not have ventured on the way.

She has nothing more to give you now.

Poor though you may find her,Ithaca has not deceived you.

Now that you have become so wise,so full of experience,

you will have understood the meaning of an Ithaca.....

CONSTANTINE CAVAFIS 1863-1933

THEATER,READING,TRAVELING(AS MUCH AS I CAN),MUSIC

OLD BOY,MATCH POINT,DEATH IN VENICE,THE COLLECTOR(STARRING:TERENCE STAMP),IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE,KARAKTER,DRIVE