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Secular or Eclectic 19th Century	About Constantine P. Cavafy Timeline (1863 - 1933)
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Original Language Greek	Ithaca
Commentary by Ivan M. Granger Themes   Bliss   Perfume   Smile       Recommended Books C. P. Cavafy: Collected Poems, by Constantine P. Cavafy / Translated by Edmund Keely Cavafy: A Biography, by Robert Liddell Cavafy's Alexandria, by Edmund Keely The Complete Poems of Cavafy: Expanded Edition, by Constantine P. Cavafy / Translated by Rae Dalven	When you set out on your journey to Ithaca, pray that the road is long, full of adventure, full of knowledge. The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops, the angry Poseidon -- do not fear them: You will never find such as these on your path, if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine emotion touches your spirit and your body. The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops, the fierce Poseidon 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 Phoenician markets, and purchase fine merchandise, mother-of-pearl and coral, amber, and ebony, and sensual perfumes of all kinds, as many sensual perfumes as you can; visit many Egyptian cities, to learn and learn from scholars.   Always keep Ithaca on 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 Ithaca will offer you riches.   Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage. Without her you would have never set out on the road. She has nothing more to give you.   And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you. Wise as you have become, with so much experience, you must already have understood what these Ithacas mean.     -- from C. P. Cavafy: Collected Poems, by Constantine P. Cavafy / Translated by Edmund Keely Amazon.com
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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

A little motivation to take down that old copy of the Odyssey, dust it off, and crack it open once again. It was a favorite of mine when I was a teenager, with gods, monsters, heroes, adventure... and a reminder of my Greek heritage (my father's father was from the Greek island of Chios).

Cavafy's poem recalls the inner meaning of the Odyssey as the journey of the soul homeward. But the monsters only exist within us, and so too does Ithaca itself. Ithaca, that true home, is our reason for the journey, but if we rush past the markets and the merchandise, if we don't pause to feel the summer mornings and smell the perfumes, will our senses even know what home is when we finally arrive?

But wherever the journey has taken you, "always keep Ithaca on your mind."

Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger.
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