The Journey To Ithaca

This is a reading from the poem "Ithaca".

"Ithaca" is a 1911 poem by Greek poet Constantine P. Cavafy that symbolizes the destination of a long journey, the supreme aim that every man tries to fulfill all his life long, the sweet homeland, the eternal calmness, and satisfaction.

Each person is looking for their own Ithaca in life. What is your Ithaca? Your supreme goal and destination that you strive for? (Share in the comments).

Come back to this reading when you need a reminder to enjoy your journey.

Music: Eternal Journey by Ambient Boy

Transcript

As you set out for Ithaca,

Hope your road is a long one,

Full of adventure,

Full of discovery.

Lystragonians,

Cyclops,

Angry Poseidon,

Don't be afraid of them.

You'll never find things like that on your way.

As long as you keep your thoughts raised high,

As long as rare excitement stirs your spirit and your body,

Lystragonians,

Cyclops,

Wild Poseidon,

You won't encounter them unless you bring them along inside your soul,

Unless your soul sets them up in front of you.

Hope your road is a long one.

May there be many summer mornings when with what pleasure,

What joy,

You enter harbors you're seeing for the first time.

May you stop at Phoenician trading stations to buy fine things,

Mother of pearl and coral,

Amber and ebony,

Sensual perfume of every kind,

As many sensual perfumes as you can.

May you visit many Egyptian cities to learn and go on learning from their scholars.

Keep Ithaca always in your mind,

Arriving there is what you're destined for,

But don't hurry the journey at all.

Better if it lasts for years,

So you're old by the time you reach the island,

Wealthy with all you've gained on the way,

Not expecting Ithaca to make you rich.

Ithaca gave you the marvelous journey.

Without her,

You wouldn't have set out,

And she has nothing left to give you now.

And if you find her poor,

Ithaca won't have fooled you.

Wise as you will have become,

So full of experience,

You'll have understood by then what these Ithacas mean.

Reviews

So beautiful, I am on my Ithica path now. I closed eyes and I understood. I set my first foot forward on my Ithica path.
Thank you so much. 🌹