Ithaca

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



When you set out for Ithaka
ask that your way be long,
full of adventure, full of instruction.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - do not fear them:
such as these you will never find
as long as your thought is lofty, as long as a rare
emotion touch your spirit and your body.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - you will not meet them
unless you carry them in your soul,
unless your soul raise them up before you.

Ask that your way be long.
At many a Summer dawn to enter
with what gratitude, what joy -
ports seen for the first time;
to stop at Phoenician trading centres,
and to buy good merchandise,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensuous perfumes of every kind,
sensuous perfumes as lavishly as you can;
to visit many Egyptian cities,
to gather stores of knowledge from the learned.

Have Ithaka always in your mind.
Your arrival there is what you are destined for.
But don't in the least hurry the journey.
Better it last for years,
so that when you reach the island you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to give you wealth.
Ithaka gave you a splendid journey.
Without her you would not have set out.
She hasn't anything else to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaka hasn't deceived you.
So wise you have become, of such experience,
that already you'll have understood what these Ithakas mean.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on May 03, 2023

1:18 min read
632

Quick analysis:

Scheme aAxBcdxeBcxf Axxxxxedxxx dxexxxxexf fxx
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,365
Words 258
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 12, 11, 10, 3

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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1 Comment
  • sofia_o
    Very poor translation I'm afraid.
    LikeReply2 years ago
    • tricky_r
      I disagree. While I do not know the exact Greek wording, the simplicity of this version, by Edmund Keeley (Knopf, 1960), condenses many of the extraneous words from other versions into a fine English condensation. It is crisp, concise, and very clear. Love it! 
      LikeReply2 years ago

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"Ithaca" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/7176/ithaca>.

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