Ithaca

Ithaca by Constantine P. Cavafy

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 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 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 Ithacas mean.

I first read this poem when Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died. It was said that her longtime love, Maurice Tempelsman, read it at her memorial. It makes me happy to think of her enjoying such voyages in her later life; she went through so many difficulties in her younger years.

This poem speaks to me of the great joys of traveling with my beloved. We love our journeys, even the little ones from our home to Canada.

We took these photographs on our journey through France and Italy, in the summer of 2009.

We didn't go to Ithaka.

For a slightly different - and beautiful - translation of this poem, look here.