Raul’s Reviews > C. P. Cavafy: Collected Poems > Status Update
Raul
is on page 113 of 624
The apparition of my body in its youth
came and also brought me cause for pain:
deaths in the family; separations;
the feelings of my loved ones, the feelings of
those long dead which I so little valued.
Half past twelve. How the time has passed.
Half past twelve. How the years have passed.
— Aug 28, 2026 07:56AM
came and also brought me cause for pain:
deaths in the family; separations;
the feelings of my loved ones, the feelings of
those long dead which I so little valued.
Half past twelve. How the time has passed.
Half past twelve. How the years have passed.
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Raul’s Previous Updates
Raul
is on page 227 of 624
Impossible Things
There is one joy alone, but one that’s blessed,
one consolation only in this pain.
How many thronging vulgar days were missed
because of this ending; how much ennui.
A poet has said: “The loveliest
music is the one that cannot be played.”
And I, I daresay that by far the best
life is the one that cannot be lived.
— Oct 01, 2026 06:13AM
There is one joy alone, but one that’s blessed,
one consolation only in this pain.
How many thronging vulgar days were missed
because of this ending; how much ennui.
A poet has said: “The loveliest
music is the one that cannot be played.”
And I, I daresay that by far the best
life is the one that cannot be lived.
Raul
is on page 176 of 624
The Windows
In these shadowed rooms, in which I pass
gloomy days, up and down I pace
that I might find the windows.—For a window
to be open would be a consolation.—
But there are no windows, or I can’t
find them. And perhaps it’s best I don’t.
Perhaps the light will be a new oppression.
Who knows what new things it will show.
Those two last lines. Goodness.
— Sep 24, 2026 10:51AM
In these shadowed rooms, in which I pass
gloomy days, up and down I pace
that I might find the windows.—For a window
to be open would be a consolation.—
But there are no windows, or I can’t
find them. And perhaps it’s best I don’t.
Perhaps the light will be a new oppression.
Who knows what new things it will show.
Those two last lines. Goodness.
Raul
is on page 162 of 624
In The Same Space
House, coffeehouses, neighborhood: setting
that I see and where I walk; year after year.
I crafted you amid joy and amid sorrows:
out of so much that happened, out of so many things.
And you’ve been wholly remade into feeling; for me.
— Sep 21, 2026 12:43AM
House, coffeehouses, neighborhood: setting
that I see and where I walk; year after year.
I crafted you amid joy and amid sorrows:
out of so much that happened, out of so many things.
And you’ve been wholly remade into feeling; for me.
Raul
is on page 83 of 624
Monotony
On one monotone day one more
monotone, indistinct day follows. The same
things will happen, then again recur—
identical moments find us, then go their way.
One month passes bringing one month more.
What comes next is easy enough to know:
the boredom from the day before.
And tomorrow’s got to where it seems like no
tomorrow.
— Aug 12, 2026 06:50AM
On one monotone day one more
monotone, indistinct day follows. The same
things will happen, then again recur—
identical moments find us, then go their way.
One month passes bringing one month more.
What comes next is easy enough to know:
the boredom from the day before.
And tomorrow’s got to where it seems like no
tomorrow.
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Sheska
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Aug 28, 2026 09:44AM
I remember stumbling upon Cavafy’s Ithaka after finishing the Odyssey few years back and thinking I should really read some more of his poetry because that was just wonderful. The snippets you’ve been quoting have reminded me of that feeling. So, I'll definitely be looking out for this collection. Thank you.
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Sheska wrote: "I remember stumbling upon Cavafy’s Ithaka after finishing the Odyssey few years back and thinking I should really read some more of his poetry because that was just wonderful. The snippets you’ve b..."Cavafy is a supreme poet, I read some of his selected in another book some years ago and I completely understand what you mean when you mention Ithaka. Glad that the snippets did that for you and I hope I'll read your thoughts when you read him.