Ithaca by Constantine P. Cavafy

C. P. Cavafy

Ithaca

When you start on your journey to Ithaca,
then pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
Do not fear the Lestrygonians
and the Cyclopes and the angry Poseidon.
You will never meet such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your body and your spirit.
You will never meet the Lestrygonians,
the Cyclopes and the fierce Poseidon,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not raise them up before you.

Then pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many,
that you will enter ports seen for the first time
with such pleasure, with such joy!
Stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and corals, amber and ebony,
and pleasurable perfumes of all kinds,
buy as many pleasurable perfumes as you can;
visit hosts of Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from those who have knowledge.

Always keep Ithaca fixed 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 long years;
and even to anchor at the isle when you are old,
rich with all that 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 never have taken the road.
But she has nothing more to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not defrauded you.
With the great wisdom you have gained, with so much experience,
you must surely have understood by then what Ithacas mean.

~~ Constantine Cavafy

It is always about the journey; a destination is just a new launching point. ~ Ginger Hamilton

Universal Gratitude

My life is (and always has been) chock-full of magical moments and events. I am largely oblivious to them in the way, I suppose, a ridiculously wealthy princess takes for granted riches we peasants drool over. They're every-day occurrences to me.

From the moment I first considered accepting this new writing project, the Universe has conspired to direct resource material in my direction. I call this synchronicity. The closer we get to "our" ideal journey, the more the Universe packs our knapsack with provisions (because we danged sure are gonna need every one of 'em).

So a big ole "THANK YOU" to you, Uni and all your minions. ♥

[Tomorrow: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros]

Flashbacks

Flashbacks exist to gain sudden insight to illuminate your path. They aren't torches you carry but streaks of lightning. 
          ~~ Ginger Hamilton

[Tomorrow: On Love and Marriage]

Flash Fiction: Autumn

Autumn

We hope to maintain life’s vibrant verdant greens

and rich reds, but death prevails. Beaten, we suck 

bitter amber liquid from glass bottles in honor of 

fallen comrades -- road dust on our worn-out boots, 

tanned arms and faces hard as leather, our dried 

corncob pipes cradle russet tobacco.

~~Ginger Hamilton Caudill