Well ... as you know Ithaca is the homeland of Odysseus. Homer explains the long and difficult way back from Troya to Ithaca of Odysseus and his men. Fooled by the Gods the journey to Ithaca became one of the more Dangerous but more Extraordinary journey that no man has ever done. A lot of knowledge and wisdom Odysseus got from this journey, and after several years he came back to Ithaca... older... but being a better man than when he left home.
This tale makes me think that moving from my home, although it was tough and difficult it has been one of the better decisions I have made. Now I don't really when I will come back, but for sure I will bring back with me a big luggage full of friends, good and bad memories, wisdom and over all the feeling to be a different man.
The song is from Lluis Llach and it has been translated from catalan, so excuse me for any gramatical mistake I could do (I did my best)
As you set out for Ithaca
hope your road is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
You have to pray for a long road,
for many mornings when
you enter harbours you're seeing for the first time,
and to go to cities to learn what they know.
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 marvellous journey.
Without her you wouldn't have set out.
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
Far away, far away of the fallen trees
that now imprision you,
and when you beat them
remember not to stop again.
Far away, always far away,
far away than the day than now ties you.
And when you will be free
start again with new steps.
Far away, far away,
far away of the tomorow that is coming.
And when you would think that you arrive,
be able to find new paths.
Good journey to the warriors
that are faithfull to their land,
that the God of winds helps
the sail of their ship,
and although the fight
they have the pleasure to be loved.
Fill the nets of the beloved stars
full of adventures
full of wisdom.
3 comments:
ITHAKA
As you set out for Ithaka
hope your road is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - don't be afraid of them:
you'll never find things like that one on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement
stirs your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians, 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 harbours 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 perfumes of every kind -
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
and may you visit many Egyptian cities
to learn and go on learning from their scholars.
Keep Ithaka 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 Ithaka to make you rich.
Ithaka gave you the marvellous journey.
Without her you wouldn't have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka won't have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you'll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean
Constantine P. Cavafy
Thank you very much for the original translation.
But I've translated the lyrics of the song that are slightly different than the original.
But thousand thanks anyway
Finally some optimism in here :) as many people say... what won't kill us, will make us stronger. I hope that from now on, everything will better and better with every day.
Cheers :*
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