CURRENT MOON

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Sunday Relevant Poetry Blogging


Trojans

Our efforts are those of the unfortunate;
our efforts are like those of the Trojans.
Somewhat we succeed; somewhat
we regain confidence; and we start
to have courage and high hopes.

But something always happens and stops us.
Achilles in the trench before us
emerges and with loud cries terrifies us
.--

Our efforts are like those of the Trojans.
We believe that with resolution and daring
we will alter the blows of destiny
,
and we stand outside to do battle.

But when the great crisis comes,
our daring and our resolution vanish;

our soul is agitated, paralyzed;
and we run around the walls
seeking to save ourselves in flight.

Nevertheless, our fall is certain. Above,
on the walls, the mourning has already begun.
The memories and the sentiments of our days weep.
Bitterly Priam and Hecuba weep for us.

Constantine P. Cavafy (1905)

1 comment:

Anne Johnson said...

As Mark Twain said it, "'Now that we're in the war, we must fight it to the end.' Why, even a burglar couldn't have said it better than that."