Ithaka – The Reformed Dealer

As you set out for Ithaka
hope the voyage is a protracted one,
stuffed with journey, stuffed with discovery.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
indignant Poseidon—don’t be afraid of them:
you’ll by no means discover issues like that in your manner
so long as you retain your ideas raised excessive,
so long as a uncommon pleasure
stirs your spirit and your physique.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
wild Poseidon—you gained’t encounter them
until you convey them alongside inside your soul,
until your soul units them up in entrance of you.

Hope the voyage is a protracted one.
Could there be many a summer time morning when,
with what pleasure, what pleasure,
you come into harbors seen for the primary time;
might you cease at Phoenician buying and selling stations
to purchase high quality issues,
mom of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
sensual fragrance of each form—
as many sensual perfumes as you’ll be able to;
and will you go to many Egyptian cities
to assemble shops of data from their students.

Hold Ithaka all the time in your thoughts.
Arriving there’s what you might be destined for.
However don’t hurry the journey in any respect.
Higher if it lasts for years,
so you might be previous by the point you attain the island,
rich with all you’ve gained on the best way,
not anticipating Ithaka to make you wealthy.

Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.
With out her you wouldn’t have set out.
She has nothing left to provide you now.

And should you discover her poor, Ithaka gained’t have fooled you.
Sensible as you should have turn into, so stuffed with expertise,
you should have understood by then what these Ithakas imply.

C.P. Cavafy, 1911