Do not degrade it by dragging it along, taking it around and exposing it so often to the daily silliness of social relations and parties, until it comes to seem a boring hangeron. Cavafy is widely considered the most distinguished greek poet of the 20th century. We understand that the preceding exhortationlive the life you want, or perhaps follow your dreamshas been left out. Try not to degrade it by dragging it along, taking it around and exposing. Cavafy article about cavafy by the free dictionary. Constantine p cavafy poems by the famous poet all poetry. Try not to degrade it by dragging it along, taking it around and exposing it so often to the daily silliness of social events and parties, until it comes to seem a boring hangeron. As much as you can by c p cavafy poetry in surrey libraries. Wise as you have become, with so much experience, you must already have understood what ithaca means. Sparknotes bookrags the meaning summary overview critique of explanation pinkmonkey.
Please note that the poems are divided in chronological categories. Do not degrade it by dragging it along, taking it around and exposing it. As much as you can even if you cannot live your life as you wanted to, at least try this as much as you can. Cavafy as much as you can 1 translated from the greek by. Cavafy s hopes for a world without intolerance adds yet another dimension to the profound humanity of his poetry. This may well be true, but its not just a matter of coincidence that cavafy s poetic voice sounds much the same in the renderings into french. Try not to degrade it by dragging it along, taking it around and exposing it so often to the daily silliness of social events and parties, until it comes to. Cavafy, also known as konstantin or konstantinos petrou kavafis, or kavaphes was a renowned greek poet who lived in alexandria and worked as a journalist and civil servant.
April 29 april 17, os, 1863 april 29, 1933 was an egyptiot greek poet, journalist and civil servant. As much as you can by constantine cavafy your daily poem. As much as you can is an important lesson about the meaning of human dignity and selfrespect that every person should be aware of. His most important poetry was written after his fortieth birthday. Iolas showed me, jones says, what can be done with a compelling story and a good eye. Cavafy archive an archive open to all onassis foundation. And if you cant shape your life the way you wantat least try as much as you cannot to degrade it. Try not to degrade it by dragging it along, taking it around and exposing it so often. As much as you can do meaning in the cambridge english. As much as you can and if you can t shape your life the way you want, at least try as much as you can not to degrade it by too much contact with the world, by too much activity and talk. Cavafy, also known as konstantin or konstantinos petrou kavafis, or kavaphes was a renowned greek poet who lived in alexandria and worked as a journalist and. Wise as you have become, with so much experience, you must already have understood what ithacas mean. Prices in represent the retail prices valid in germany unless otherwise indicated. And if you can t shape your life the way you want, at least try as much as you can not to degrade it by too much contact with the world, by too much activity and talk.
Cavafy s father was an importerexporter whose business responsibilities frequently led him to the port city of. Cavafy poems in english and greek side by side reference address. On a first, historical level, the poem seems to be based mainly on the story of themistocles, the athenian statesman and general who is largely responsible for the greek victory against the persians in the naval battle of salamis 480 bce. Cavafy even if you cannot shape your life as you want it, at least try this as much as you can. Do not debase it by taking it, dragging it often and exposing it to the daily folly of relationships and associations, until it becomes burdensome as an alien life. Greek fonts cavafy resources back to the greek word library. Prices in gbp apply to orders placed in great britain only. If you say something is as much as you can do, you manage to do it, but with great difficulty. Even if you cannot shape your life as you want it, at least try this as much as you can. Try not to degrade it by dragging it along, taking it around and exposing it. However, you can always think of any popular situations where you. We understand that the preceding exhortationlive the life you want, or. And if you cant shape your life the way you want, at least try as much as you can not to degrade it by too much contact with the world, by too much activity and. I thought it was the founder of the methodist church or something similar but i dont know for sure.
And if you find her poor, ithaca has not deceived you. Daniel mendelsohns acclaimed twovolume translation of the complete poems of c. And if you cant shape your life the way you want, at least try as much as you can. Dont cheapen it by taking it about, making the rounds with it, exposing it to the everyday inanity of relations and connections, so it becomes like a stranger, burdensome. Try not to degrade it by dragging it along, taking it around and exposing it so. Cavafy including the first english translation of the poets final unfinished poemsnow published in one handsome edition and featuring the fullest literary. Body, remember not only how much you were loved, not only the beds on which you lay, but also those desires for you that glowed plainly in the eyes, and trembled in the voiceand some chance obstacle made futile.
His consciously individual style earned him a place among the most important figures not only in greek poetry, but in western poetry as well. Cavafy if you cannot fashion your life as you would like,endeavour to do this at least,as much as you can. As much as you can by constantine p cavafy famous poems. In translating i aim first and foremost to write a poem in english that partakes, as much as it is within my power to achieve, of the salient qualities of the original. That excision gives the poem its energy and elevates it from the stock sentiments of classroom posters and refrigerator magnets. Who made the following quote do as much good as you can. As much as you can the horses of achilles in the month athyr perfidy finished. Cavafy s poem as much as you can begins midconversation.
After his fathers death in 1872 he was taken to liverpool, england, for five years. Cavafys poem as much as you can begins midconversation. Cavafy s collected poems and the firstever english translation of the poets thirty unfinished poems, both featuring the fullest literary commentaries available in englishby the acclaimed critic, scholar, and awardwinning author of the lost. Even if you can t shape your life the way you want, at least try as much as you can not to degrade it by too much contact with the world, by too much activity and talk. Without her you would have never set out on the road.
Our mission has always been to provide free and open access to researchers as well as the wider public, and to promote cavafy s work and the international character of his poetry through the digitisation and. In dionysos and his crew cavafy heavily sneers at the artist that regards his success as. Here you will find the poem as much as you can of poet constantine p cavafy. Clear explanations of natural written and spoken english. Cavafy believed that you couldnt remember history no matter what you did, and, in any. Cavafy poems, quotations and biography on constantine p.
Cavafy was born konstantinos petrou kavafis or kabaphs in alexandria, egypt, into a wealthy merchant family. He was born in alexandria, egypt, where his greek parents had settled in the mid1850s. And if you cant shape your life the way you wantat least try as much as you cannot to degrade. And even if you cannot make your life the way you want it, this much, at. Cavafy poems english here you can find the complete list and read all of cavafy s published poems 154 and a few of his unpublished ones. In as much as you can cavafy praises a schopenhauerian distancing from the goingson. The cavafy archive was acquired by the onassis foundation at the end of 2012, thus safeguarding the archives continued presence in greece and preventing a potential fragmentation. Do as much good as you can, for as many people as you can, as often as you can, wherever you can, for any reason you can, for as many days as you have this is the full quote. In this sense, iolas had a profound influence on the kind of artist jones became, in much the same manner that cavafy impressed a young iolas. In satrapy it is recommended that man and especially the poet should resign the throne. Cavafy, one of the most important greek poets of all times, died in alexandria on the day of his birthday, as the citys most significant intellectual figure. Here you will find the poem as much as you can of poet constantine p cavafy as much as you can and if you cant shape your life the way you want, at least try as much as you can not to degrade it by too much contact with the world, by too much activity and talk. Dont cheapen it, taking it, dragging it often and exposing it. Originally the family came from constantinople, turkey, where cavafy lived from 1880 to 1885.