In The Harbor

Constantine P. Cavafy 1863 (Alexandria) – 1933 (Alexandria)



Emis - young, twenty-eight-
reached this Syrian harbor in a Tenian ship,
his plan to learn the incense trade.
But ill during the voyage,
he died as soon as he was put ashore.
His burial, the poorest possible, took place here.
A few hours before dying he whispered something
about 'home', about 'very old parents.'
But nobody he called home
in the great pan Hellenic world.
Better that way; because as it is,
though he lies buried in this harbor,
his parents will always have the hope he's still alive.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 18, 2023

27 sec read
97

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABCDEFGHIJKLM
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 509
Words 93
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 13

Constantine P. Cavafy

Constantine P. Cavafy was a Greek poet who lived in Alexandria and worked as a journalist and civil servant. He published 154 poems; dozens more remained incomplete or in sketch form. His most important poetry was written after his fortieth birthday. more…

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