The Grandfather Konstantinos Kavafis
As my mother always says the symbolism of 'grandfather' Kavafi is lyrical and masterfully span. Beautiful images woven into myths and didactic examples on the perception of life's journey. If one does not take the time to reflect on the journey of life and realize the multiple interpretations of 'Ithaka' for one's self then the ride will be all the poorer for it. Using the strong mythological symbol of an island whose name has become equated with the journey of becoming Kavafi speaks to us from early twentieth century Alexandria.
Costantinos Kavafis. Alexandrea. 1863-1933
ITHAKA (1911)
As you set out for Ithaka
hope your road is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops,angry Poseidon - don't be afraid of them:
you'll never find things like that one on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement stirs your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops,wild Poseidon - you won't encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.
Hope your road is a long one.
May there be many summer mornings when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you enter harbours you're seeing for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stationsto buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony
,sensual perfumes of every kind -as many sensual perfumes as you can;
and may you visit many Egyptian cities
to learn and go on learning from their scholars.
Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you're destined for.
But don't hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you're old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you've gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.
Ithaka gave you the marvellous journey.
Without her you wouldn't have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka won't have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you'll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean
ÍTACA
Cuando salgas en el viaje, hacia Ítaca
desea que el camino sea largo,
pleno de aventuras, pleno de conocimientos.
A los Lestrigones y a los Cíclopes,al irritado Poseidón no temas,
tales cosas en tu ruta nunca hallarás,
si elevado se mantiene tu pensamiento,
si una selecta emoción tu espíritu y tu cuerpo embarga.
A los Lestrigones y a los Cíclopes,y al feroz Poseidón no encontrarás,
si dentro de tu alma no los llevas,si tu alma no los yergue delante de ti.
Desea que el camino sea largo.
Que sean muchas las mañanas estivalesen
que con cuánta dicha, con cuánta alegríaentres a puertos nunca vistos:
detente en mercados fenicios,y adquiere las bellas mercancías,
ámbares y ébanos, marfiles y corales,y perfumes voluptuosos de toda clase,
cuanto más abundantes puedas perfumes voluptuosos;
anda a muchas ciudades Egipciasa aprender y aprender de los sabios.
Siempre en tu pensamiento ten a Ítaca.
Llegar hasta allí es tu destino.Pero no apures tu viaje en absoluto.
Mejor que muchos años dure:y viejo ya ancles en la isla,
rico con cuanto ganaste en el camino,sin esperar que riquezas te dé Ítaca.
Ítaca te dio el bello viaje.
Sin ella no hubieras salido al camino.
Otras cosas no tiene ya que darte.
Y si pobre la encuentras, Ítaca no te ha engañado.
Sabio así como llegaste a ser, con experiencia tanta,
ya habrás comprendido las Ítacas qué es lo que significan.
Costantinos Kavafis. Alexandrea. 1863-1933
ITHAKA (1911)
As you set out for Ithaka
hope your road is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops,angry Poseidon - don't be afraid of them:
you'll never find things like that one on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement stirs your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops,wild Poseidon - you won't encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.
Hope your road is a long one.
May there be many summer mornings when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you enter harbours you're seeing for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stationsto buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony
,sensual perfumes of every kind -as many sensual perfumes as you can;
and may you visit many Egyptian cities
to learn and go on learning from their scholars.
Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you're destined for.
But don't hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you're old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you've gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.
Ithaka gave you the marvellous journey.
Without her you wouldn't have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka won't have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you'll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean
ÍTACA
Cuando salgas en el viaje, hacia Ítaca
desea que el camino sea largo,
pleno de aventuras, pleno de conocimientos.
A los Lestrigones y a los Cíclopes,al irritado Poseidón no temas,
tales cosas en tu ruta nunca hallarás,
si elevado se mantiene tu pensamiento,
si una selecta emoción tu espíritu y tu cuerpo embarga.
A los Lestrigones y a los Cíclopes,y al feroz Poseidón no encontrarás,
si dentro de tu alma no los llevas,si tu alma no los yergue delante de ti.
Desea que el camino sea largo.
Que sean muchas las mañanas estivalesen
que con cuánta dicha, con cuánta alegríaentres a puertos nunca vistos:
detente en mercados fenicios,y adquiere las bellas mercancías,
ámbares y ébanos, marfiles y corales,y perfumes voluptuosos de toda clase,
cuanto más abundantes puedas perfumes voluptuosos;
anda a muchas ciudades Egipciasa aprender y aprender de los sabios.
Siempre en tu pensamiento ten a Ítaca.
Llegar hasta allí es tu destino.Pero no apures tu viaje en absoluto.
Mejor que muchos años dure:y viejo ya ancles en la isla,
rico con cuanto ganaste en el camino,sin esperar que riquezas te dé Ítaca.
Ítaca te dio el bello viaje.
Sin ella no hubieras salido al camino.
Otras cosas no tiene ya que darte.
Y si pobre la encuentras, Ítaca no te ha engañado.
Sabio así como llegaste a ser, con experiencia tanta,
ya habrás comprendido las Ítacas qué es lo que significan.
Comments