Understanding

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



The years of my youth, my sensual life --
how clearly I see their meaning now.

What needless repentances, how futile....

But I did not understand the meaning then.

In the dissolute life of my youth
the desires of my poetry were being formed,
the scope of my art was being plotted.

This is why my repentances were never stable.
And my resolutions to control myself, to change
lasted for two weeks at the very most.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

23 sec read
48

Quick analysis:

Scheme XX A X XXX AXX
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 412
Words 78
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 2, 1, 1, 3, 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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    "Understanding" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/7278/understanding>.

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