But Wise Men Perceive Approaching Things

Constantine P. Cavafy 1863 (Alexandria) – 1933 (Alexandria)



Because gods perceive future things, men what is happening now,
but wise men perceive approaching things.

Philostratus, Life of Apollonius of Tyana, VIII, 7.

Men know what is happening now.
The gods know the things of the future,
the full and sole possessors of all lights.
Of the future things, wise men perceive
approaching things. Their hearing

is sometimes, during serious studies,
disturbed. The mystical clamor
of approaching events reaches them.
And they heed it with reverence. While outside
on the street, the peoples hear nothing at all.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

27 sec read
66

Quick analysis:

Scheme AX B ACXBX XCXXX
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 543
Words 90
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 2, 1, 5, 5

Constantine P. Cavafy

Constantine P. Cavafy was a Greek poet who lived in Alexandria and worked as a journalist and civil servant. He published 154 poems; dozens more remained incomplete or in sketch form. His most important poetry was written after his fortieth birthday. more…

All Constantine P. Cavafy poems | Constantine P. Cavafy Books

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