Ithaca

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Top of Haleakala

Ithaca

When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians, the Cyclops,
the angry Posiedon - do not fear them.
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine emotion emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians, the Cyclops, and fierce Posiedon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you.

Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time.
Stop at Phonecian markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl, coral, amber, and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can.
Visit Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.

Always keep Ithaca in your mind,
to arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years,
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way.
Not expecting that Itaca will offer you riches.

Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would never have set out on the road,
She has nothing more to give you.
And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not decieved you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Ithaca means.

Constantine Cavafy
1911

I want my life to be a journey. Ihis poem captures exactly what I feel. I love it and now yu can too. This may also help explain some of my behavior, especially my serious case of wanderlust!

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Photos

Crazy in Italy
Sienna

Me and Matt Atop Haleakala!
It was a long scary climb up, but even scarier going down!

Comments

[gracie]

Ginger, the poem is beautiful. I can fell the revibrations within my heart-strings. Travel on, and may the Zephers and the Sea Nymphs propell you further, ever so sweetly!