ITHACA

Sexta-feira passada estava em casa da Laura, ela tinha ido trabalhar. Peguei no livro "Molecules that changed the world" para me fazer companhia ao pequeno-almoco. Gosto de ler ao pequeno almoco. Na última página descobri o poema Ithaca (traducao inglesa do grego). Nao sei quantas vezes já o reli desde sexta feira. Ter sempre presente que a riqueza vem do caminho que fazemos para atingir objectivos, e nao dos objectivos em si , é o que nos salva.

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 fineemotion 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 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 all the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.

Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never 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 what Ithacas mean.

Konstandinos Kavafis, 1911