Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Love for the journey




Life - a miraculous journey!




ITHAKA


When you set out for Ithaka

ask that your way be long,

full of adventure, full of instruction.

The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,

angry Poseidon - do not fear them:

such as these you will never find

as long as your thought is lofty, as long as a rare

emotion touch your spirit and your body.

The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,

angry Poseidon - you will not meet them

unless you carry them in your soul,

unless your soul raise them up before you.


Ask that your way be long.

At many a Summer dawn to enter

with what gratitude, what joy -

ports seen for the first time;

to stop at Phoenician trading centres,

and to buy good merchandise,

mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,

and sensuous perfumes of every kind,

sensuous perfumes as lavishly as you can;

to visit many Egyptian cities,

to gather stores of knowledge from the learned.


Have Ithaka always in your mind.

Your arrival there is what you are destined for.

But don't in the least hurry the journey.

Better it last for years,

so that when you reach the island you are old,

rich with all you have gained on the way,

not expecting Ithaka to give you wealth.

Ithaka gave you a splendid journey.

Without her you would not have set out.

She hasn't anything else to give you.


And if you find her poor, Ithaka hasn't deceived you.

So wise you have become, of such experience,

that already you'll have understood what these Ithakas mean.


by Constantine P Cavafy






I love that poem.

It says so much about life, how it should be lived, how it can be lived.

And it tells me that there are clues for me on the "how" everywhere,
I just need to pay attention.

It tells me that I am so much more then I appear to be on the outside...

It tells me that everything, everyone else is so much
more then they appear to be on the outside!

It tells me to think lofty!
I like that thought!

It tells me that happiness IS within the Now,
IS within every step of the way.

It tells me NOT to hurry those steps and
not to welcome of the obstacles in front of me.

It tells me that awareness is the only way to do it right.
Only through awareness I can see with my heart.

It tells me that life is endless, that there is no beginning either.
Life is fluent, like the water in the nearby creek.

As we live, we grow.
We grow in knowledge, the only real wealth that can be gained is happiness.

And happiness is whatever we want it to be,
it IS the journey itself...




:))

7 comments:

  1. Great post HBFG!Very very insightful!
    I loved the poem too.

    love
    chaitra ♥

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  2. Very inspiring poetry! And your photograph is absolutely amazing!

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  3. Your day is under way and mine is just starting! The photo is as inspiring as the poem. Wonderful post!

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  4. Great post, and ever so lovely Ladybug. They are my favourites. :D

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  5. Really liked the post. The poem is pretty neat. Great LadyBud pic too!

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  6. Beautiful photo of the ladybug. It's so true life is about the journey and we find our happiness along the way.

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  7. Hi Michi! I have just now caught up, I loved your post on the rain and the spring and then Colorado(i LOVE Colorado!) and the horse back ride, Hi Midas!! and then this beautiful poem. All your photos and words are like a breath of fresh air, they make me so happy. I am thinking I'm really going to miss it here while I'm gone!
    Thank you for everything.
    ♥ Lori

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