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Please help if you can: 'Valedictory.'

 
 
Reply Sat 29 Nov, 2003 12:04 pm
Does anyone know this poem and/or have a link to it? I don't know who wrote it, but I can remember that it was talking about the path to Ithaca as an extended metaphor for success, happiness and life in general. Although I would never consider it to be the greatest poem, it was rather striking.

Thanks a lot...
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Type: Discussion • Score: 1 • Views: 798 • Replies: 8
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McTag
 
  1  
Reply Sat 29 Nov, 2003 01:01 pm
David Lehman? Not sure.
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Letty
 
  1  
Reply Sat 29 Nov, 2003 01:02 pm
Hey, drom. Could this be the path you seek?


Ithaca
When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon -- do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you.

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.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what
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Letty
 
  1  
Reply Sat 29 Nov, 2003 01:06 pm
Oops, sorry. Looks as though I didn't get the complete piece. I'll keep checking, though.

Hey, McTag. Cold here right now, so I can use that as an excuse for unsurity... Razz
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drom et reve
 
  1  
Reply Sat 29 Nov, 2003 01:12 pm
Yes... thank you very much, Letty. It ends 'what Ithaca means', I think... I remember that from a while ago; the person who read it out said that it was called 'Valedictory' and the name of the person sounded rather English, not Greek. That is definetely the one though, although the one read to us was abridged... thank you again.
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sozobe
 
  1  
Reply Sat 29 Nov, 2003 01:15 pm
Yay Letty! That was impressive.
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Letty
 
  1  
Reply Sat 29 Nov, 2003 01:15 pm
Hey, drom. You be quite welcome, my friend.
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Letty
 
  1  
Reply Sat 29 Nov, 2003 01:18 pm
Hey, Soz. I ain't gettin' older, I'm gettin' better. Razz
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sozobe
 
  1  
Reply Sat 29 Nov, 2003 01:21 pm
Very Happy
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