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Ithaka 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 afrai

by rboyd 2y ago

Ithaka 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 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 harbors you’re seeing for the first time; may you stop at Phoenician trading stations to buy fine things, mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony, sensual perfume 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 marvelous 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. BY C. P. CAVAFY TRANSLATED BY EDMUND KEELEY

pcranaway 2y ago
If we're suggesting Greek poetry I would like to suggest a more recent poet from my city who passed a few years ago, his name was Dinos Christianopoulos -- (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinos_Christianopoulos https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinos_Christianopoulos, some of his poems are translated here -- https://thegeby.wordpress.com/dinos-christianopoulos/ https://thegeby.wordpress.com/dinos-christianopoulos/) I've heard many stories about him from locals. It appears that he was a vibrant member of the local community. One of Christianopoulos' characteristics was that we was never scared to say his opinion, and he had strong opinions. He also had some interesting opinions about other poets. When asked his opinion about other poets, he'd usually reply with something like "Interesting guy, but meh." He'd have that opinion even for some of the greatest poets. Cavafy is probably excluded though, as he appears to have liked him. In an interview, the interviewer asked him something about the current government. He said, "I don't even know who the current prime minister is." So it appears that he wasn't involved in politics much. Mostly ideologies. (Some of this information may be inaccurate and I very much apologize) Along with that I'd like to suggest another local poet who is a bit more known: Manolis Anagnostakis -- (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manolis_Anagnostakis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manolis_Anagnostakis, poems: https://lsa.umich.edu/content/dam/modgreek-assets/Home/Window%20to%20Greek%20Culture/Literature/LIT_Anagnostakis_Manolis_Poems.pdf https://lsa.umich.edu/content/dam/modgreek-assets/Home/Windo...) I would highly suggest reading his Wikipedia page or whatever biography you may find about him. His story is super interesting.

by rboyd 2y ago

pcranaway 2y ago

If we're suggesting Greek poetry I would like to suggest a more recent poet from my city who passed a few years ago, his name was Dinos Christianopoulos -- (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinos_Christianopoulos https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinos_Christianopoulos, some of his poems are translated here -- https://thegeby.wordpress.com/dinos-christianopoulos/ https://thegeby.wordpress.com/dinos-christianopoulos/) I've heard many stories about him from locals. It appears that he was a vibrant member of the local community. One of Christianopoulos' characteristics was that we was never scared to say his opinion, and he had strong opinions. He also had some interesting opinions about other poets. When asked his opinion about other poets, he'd usually reply with something like "Interesting guy, but meh." He'd have that opinion even for some of the greatest poets. Cavafy is probably excluded though, as he appears to have liked him. In an interview, the interviewer asked him something about the current government. He said, "I don't even know who the current prime minister is." So it appears that he wasn't involved in politics much. Mostly ideologies. (Some of this information may be inaccurate and I very much apologize) Along with that I'd like to suggest another local poet who is a bit more known: Manolis Anagnostakis -- (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manolis_Anagnostakis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manolis_Anagnostakis, poems: https://lsa.umich.edu/content/dam/modgreek-assets/Home/Window%20to%20Greek%20Culture/Literature/LIT_Anagnostakis_Manolis_Poems.pdf https://lsa.umich.edu/content/dam/modgreek-assets/Home/Windo...) I would highly suggest reading his Wikipedia page or whatever biography you may find about him. His story is super interesting.