Ithaca

by Constantinos P. Cavafy

Considerado el poeta griego que más ha influido en la literatura contemporánea, la poesía de Constantino Cavafis parte de la experiencia íntima de su autor, pero hunde sus raíces en la historia de la cultura grecolatina. Con ironía muy tamizada, cuestiona con elegancia la decadencia del poder y evoca con nostalgia las glorias del pasado. El poeta Luis Alberto de Cuenca, que ya se había acercado a Cavafis con su celebrada traducción de «Esperando a los bárbaros», visita de nuevo su obra para trasladar al español otros diecinueve poemas fundamentales del escritor de Alejandría. La selección, completamente arbitraria, tiene el denominador común de que las veinte piezas elegidas son auténticas obras maestras.

Genres: Poetry, 20th Century, Fiction, Classics

First published January 1, 1911

About the author

Constantine P. Cavafy (also known as Konstantin or Konstantinos Petrou Kavafis, or Kavaphes; Greek Κ.Π. Καβάφης) was a major Greek poet who worked as a journalist and civil servant. His consciously individual style earned him a place among the most important figures not only in Greek poetry, but in Western poetry as well. He has been called a skeptic and a neo-pagan. In his poetry he examines critically some aspects of Christianity, patriotism, and homosexuality, though he was not always comfortable with his role as a nonconformist. He published 154 poems; dozens more remained incomplete or in sketch form. His most important poetry was written after his fortieth birthday.

Reviews

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Constantine P. Cavafy's "Ithaca" recited in English by Sir Sean Connery – with music by Vangelis

This poem shows me a perspective about our life that I want to hug to me and hold on to tight to. It’s beautiful.

Whilst hearing it I remembered Ulysses by Tennyson another poem which strikes a chord with me.

[Georgia Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good poem is a candle giving light to the darkness when fear enters our souls. It can peel away some of life's mystery and make it easier for people somehow to go on. This is one of those good poems. It makes you feel better after reading. And it reminds me of another I have long loved, the poem "Mother to Son" by the Harlem Renaissance writer Langston Hughes. No Greek island just some stairs, yet the flame burns as bright.

[Vera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ένα κλασικό ποίημα, βαθύ και ανθρώπινο.
Μέσα από τους αλλεπάλληλους παραλληλισμούς με τον Ομηρικό Οδυσσέα ο Καβάφης δίνει μια άλλη τροπή στο ανθρώπινο ταξίδι και στα οφέλη που αυτό επιφέρει στον ταξιδιώτη. Ποίημα που προβληματίζει και συγκινεί κάθε αναγνώστη, κάθε ηλικίας και εποχής!!

[Emiliya Bozhilova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Итака

“Когато тръгнеш нявга за Итака,
моли се пътят ти да е далечен,
изпълнен с перипетии и знания.
От ластригоните и от циклопите,
от Посейдон сърдития не бой се -
такива в пътя нивга не ще срещнеш,
ако възвишена остава мисълта ти,
ако отбрано чувство
душата и телото ти докосва.
Ни ластригоните, нито циклопите,
ни Посейдона разгневен ще срещнеш,
ако ги сам в душата си не носиш,
ако душата ти пред теб не ги възправя.

Моли се - пътят ти да е далечен.
И много да са пролетните сутрини,
когато с толкоз радост и любов
ще влизаш във невиждани пристанища.
Да спреш край финикийски градове
и много пъстри стоки да закупиш -
седеф, корали, кехлибар и абанос,
и всевъзможни тънки аромати,
колкото можеш повече прекрасни аромати.
В египетските градове да спреш,
да учиш и да учиш от учените.

Недей забравя никога Итака.
Да стигнеш там - това е твойта цел,
ала по пътя никак да не бързаш,
че по-добре - години да пътуваш
и остарял на острова да спреш,
богат, с каквото в пътя си спечелил,
без да очакваш нещо той да ти даде.

Итака те дари с прекрасното пътуване.
Без нея нямаше да можеш в път да тръгнеш.
Но нищо друго няма тя да ти даде.
И ако бедна я намериш, не те е тя излъгала:
тъй мъдър, както си сега със толкоз опит,
навярно вече си разбрал Итаките що значат.”

[Archodoula Vlg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Πάντα στον νου σου νάχεις την Ιθάκη.
Το φθάσιμον εκεί ειν’ ο προορισμός σου.
Αλλά μη βιάζεις το ταξείδι διόλου.
Καλλίτερα χρόνια πολλά να διαρκέσει
και γέρος πια ν' αράξεις στο νησί,
πλούσιος με όσα κέρδισες στο δρόμο,
μη προσδοκώντας πλούτη να σε δώσει η Ιθάκη.

ένα εξαιρετικό ποίημα με ποικίλους συμβολισμούς και παραλληλισμούς με την Οδύσσεια του Ομήρου.

[Klelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am trying to find the right words to explain why this is perhaps the most amazing piece ever written by the hand of man and yet, I fail. Just read it.

[El Diletante Errante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este es un libro con un único poema titulado «Itaca» (al principio pensaba que la edición era un poemario). No quiero entrar en explicaciones detalladas porque pienso que la poesía es una experiencia íntima, mucho más que la lectura de una novela.

Kavafis es considerado uno de los grandes exponentes de la poesía moderna griega. Mi encuentro con este poeta se debe a que en varias lecturas se le mencionaban, y bueno la curiosidad mató al gato.

Itaca es un poema sobre la utópica vida, sus sueños, sus quimeras, sobre la importancia del camino, que a fin de cuentas es la vida misma, los meandros, las aventuras, toda la existencia en sí. Un poeta imprescindible, que se valió de las imágenes mitológicas para ofrecernos una mirada moderna de la existencia del hombre contemporáneo.

[Humberto · Rating 5 out of 5]

La edición es preciosa y el poema es maravilloso. Cinco estrellas como cinco soles.

[Ashley Marilynne Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another extremely beautiful poem introduced by Sir Trevor McDonald <3 So dreamy :) Turned out my second book of the year wasn't a novel :D

[Aida Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚓️Naveguen entre sus páginas y conozcan una Itaca distinta...la de Ida y no la de vuelta.

⚓️La vida es un viaje que suma.

⚓️Breve,pero intenso,invita a la reflexionar,a memorizar,interiorizar...

[10wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notable.

[Xaolaura · Rating 5 out of 5]

ahora entiendo por qué helen ama tanto el poema de Itaca y cómo no!!! mil besiños a ria por alentarme a comprar (si no, no tendría tremendo libro en mis manos) muaks os quiero muito a las dos <3

[Kokelector · Rating 3 out of 5]

La poesía cotidiana de Constantino puede parecer escrita en cualquier parte del mundo. Pero al tener como trasfondo la cultura helénica, adquiere una mística que lo transforma en el lírico más importante de Grecia. Poemas y versos que van desde las despedidas de amigos, lugares comunes a cualquier ciudad, homenajes a personajes ilustres de la ciudad; reconocimiento al peso cultural que adquiere Grecia misma. Son versos que parecen escritos el año pasado, pero este poemario tiene un poco más de 100 años desde sus originales. Esto muestra el poder de su poesía. Esta edición viene con sus poemas originales en Griego, por si alguien se anima aprenderlos así. Es un poemario para leer en forma pausada y “degustando” cada poema.

[Александър · Rating 2 out of 5]

Нещо не успяхме да се разберем с Кавафис. Имаше няколко стихотворения, които ме очароваха и успяха дълготрайно да се настанят в мислите ми, но с повечето не се получи. Съжалявам, защото имах много големи очаквания.

[Rubén Jerez Brenes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una corta colección de poemas, la mayoría sobre figuras y hechos históricos. La edición es muy hermosa en virtud de la calidad del papel y sus ilustraciones. Es una lectura rápida que se disfruta mucho. El prólogo del traductor, sin embargo, me dejó un mal sabor de boca con sus referencias a ese "maldito virus chino".

[Johana Abarca Baca · Rating 4 out of 5]

La poesía no es lo mio pero creo que este año será el año en que la poesía sea parte de mi vida, Este pequeño libro bellamente ilustrado me encanto de formas que me hicieron leerla y releerla durante el dia.

[Trotalibros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imprescindible. Im-pres-cin-di-ble.

[Aristea]

excellent

[Michal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cavafy's poems enrich my days in fragile moments.

[Icarus · Rating 5 out of 5]

i adore. one of my favourite poems ever written. last year my classmate tried to learn this from heart, and i was helpful her, definitely a nice memory to match this wonderful poem. ο Καβάφης γαμάει και δέρνει fr

[Lotous Michalopoulou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best poem ever

[Krysia Meráki Stories · Rating 5 out of 5]

El mejor texto para acompañarlos de semejantes ilustraciones de calidad en griego y español.

[Fran Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una maravilla. Un faro al que acudir una y otra vez.

[GONZA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ithaca

As you set out on the way to Ithaca
hope that the road is a long one,
filled with adventures, filled with understanding.
The Laestrygonians and the Cyclopes,
Poseidon in his anger: do not fear them,
you’ll never come across them on your way
as long as your mind stays aloft, and a choice
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Laestrygonians and the Cyclopes,
savage Poseidon; you’ll not encounter them
unless you carry them within your soul,
unless your soul sets them up before you.

Hope that the road is a long one.
Many may the summer mornings be
when—with what pleasure, with what joy—
you first put in to harbors new to your eyes;
may you stop at Phoenician trading posts
and there acquire fine goods:
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and heady perfumes of every kind:
as many heady perfumes as you can.
To many Egyptian cities may you go
so you may learn, and go on learning, from their sages.

Always keep Ithaca in your mind;
to reach her is your destiny.
But do not rush your journey in the least.
Better that it last for many years;
that you drop anchor at the island an old man,
rich with all you’ve gotten on the way,
not expecting Ithaca to make you rich.

Ithaca gave to you the beautiful journey;
without her you’d not have set upon the road.
But she has nothing left to give you any more.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca did not deceive you.
As wise as you’ll have become, with so much experience,
you’ll have understood, by then, what these Ithacas mean.


Translated by Daniel Mendelsohn

[Xabier Cid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is exactly the book I needed today. A book with a single poem, this very poem.

It is not a particularly brilliant time in my life. No mayor events, but still a muffled, constant noise of derailment. And then, again, this poem.

The poem. Nothing could be added. The editor explains the lees of 22 previous different translations that he has read. No that many in my case, but three or four. Maybe five. My lees are as consistent as his. So no surprises, but the building-unbuilding exercise of reading these verses I know by heart.

Fernández prologue is precise, not excessive. Maybe because all words are already known, or pointless, or just not helping to the main journey's purpose. Beautiful. Not the helping hand, or the colour tinted glasses, but the smell of the old wood of a library.

Not the 5 stars, though, because of the illustrations. Some of them are wonderful and are disposed in a shocking order, à rebours, which adds a challenging layer of reading to the poem. Yet others are uncomfortable, disturbing, approaching some levels of ugliness even, that makes me consider whether Delicado has read thr same book, the book that we, readers, translators, Cyclops, Laestrygonians, have read before.

[Denislav Yanev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Намесата на боговете

Сега ще се случи това, после друго,
а по-късно, след две-три години,
такива ще бъдат нещата, каквито делата ни.
Какво ще се случи по-късно, няма да мислим.
Ние се мъчим все нещо добро да направим,
а колкото по се стараем, по-лошо ще става,
ще объркаме всичко така, че накрая ще бъдем
във пълно смущение. И ще трябва да спрем.
И ще дойде тогава часът, боговете когато
ще се хванат на работа. Винаги те
се явяват при нас, боговете. Ще слязат
от свойте машини, ще спасят много хора,
а други със сила внезапно ще грабнат
от нас; и когато сложат ред на земята,
ще си идат. А после - този нещо ще стори,
друг - друго; след време и другите -
кой колкото може. И всичко отново ще почне.

[books junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most beautiful poems from Cavafy, if not the best of them all. It always made me feel a bit happier and sometimes invincible! In my opinion it's a must read!!!

[Red · Rating 4 out of 5]

the day after bloomsday gift

[Ahmad Siraj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ithaka gave you a splendid journey

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Lo que importa es el camino"