My Ithaca

Its amazing how the literature we do in English class often has a connection with what is happening in my life. As we said goodbye to 2011 and hello to the new year i found a piece of writing my dear English teacher gave us. Ithaca by Constantine P. Cavafy.

Ithaca is a poem written about Odysseus. And how Odysseus' ultimate goal was to reach the island of Ithaca. How everything he did was done in order to get home.
In the week when I'm at school, I'll often say i want to go home. And when i read this it touched me deeply because i realized my time at home is over for now. I'm suppose to enjoy every moment of the journey. I'll go back home when I'm old, rich with all i have experienced and all my adventures.

This is a extract of the poem:

Ithaca

"Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.

Always keep Ithaca 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 many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.

Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you."

So I'm going to savour every moment of my journey. Experience everything i possibly can. And one day I'll look back and know i didn't live for the future, but i lived for today.

My Ithaca

My Journey

My Destination