According To The Formulas Of Ancient Grecosyrian Magi

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



"What distillate can be discovered from herbs
of a witching brew," said an aesthete,
"what distillate prepared according
to the formulas of ancient Grecosyrian magi
which for a day (if no longer
its potency can last), or even for a short time
can bring my twenty three years to me
again; can bring my friend of twenty two
to me again -- his beauty, his love.

"What distillate prepared according
to the formulas of ancient Grecosyrian magi
which, in bringing back these things,
can also bring back our little room."

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

27 sec read
76

Quick analysis:

Scheme xxABxxxxx ABxx
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 522
Words 94
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 9, 4

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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