Walls (Excerpt)
With no consideration, no pity, no shame,
they have built walls around me, thick and high.
And now I sit here feeling hopeless.
[...]
Prayer (Excerpt)
A sailor drowned in the sea's depths.-
Unaware, his mother goes and lights
a tall candle before the ikon of our Lady
praying that he'll come back quickly, that the weather may be good -
[...]
Trojans (Excerpt)
Our efforts are those of men prone to disaster;
our efforts are like those of the Trojans.
We just begin to get somewhere,
begin to gather a little strength,
grow almost bold and hopeful,
when something always comes up to stop us:
Achilles leaps out of the trench in front of us
and terrifies us with his violent shouting.
[...]
The Battle of Magnesia (Excerpt)
He's lost his old fire, his courage.
Now his tired body, almost sick,
will be his first concern. And he'll spend the rest of his life
without worrying. So Philip says, anyway.
Tonight he's playing a game with dice;
he's in a mood to enjoy himself.
Cover the table with roses. What if Antiochos
was defeated at Magnesia? They say
the bulk of his brilliant army was totally crushed.
[...]
- C.P. Cavafy
