Itacha

when you set out on your journey to Itacha,
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 touch your spirit and your body.
the lestrygonians and the cyclops,
the fierce poseidon you will never encounter,
if you not carry them within your soul,
if your heart does not set them up before you.

pray thaht the road is long,
that the summer morning 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 merchendise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
ans sensual parfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as u can;
visit many egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scolars.

always keep Itacha in ur mind.
to arrive there is ur ultimate goal.
but do noy 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 itacha will offer you riches.

Itacha has given you the beautiful voyage.
without her you would never have set out on the road.
she has nothing more to give you.

and if you find her poor, Itacha has not deceive you.
wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Itachas mean.

constantine cavafy (1863-1933)
translated by rae dalven
taken from : The Zahir by Paolo Coelho

(untuk ku dan untuk mu yang sedang berjuang
lupakan kata putus asa
kita maksimalkan ikhtiar,
lalu bertawakkal
karena Allah tau yang terbaik untuk kita)