And from this marvellous pan-Hellenic expedition, triumphant, brilliant in every way, celebrated on all sides, glorified incomparable, we emerged: the great new Hellenic world.
C.P. CavafyGive me artificial flowers - porcelain and metal glories - neither fading nor decaying, forms unaging. Flowers of the splendid gardens of another place, where Forms and Styles and Knowledge dwell. I love flowers made of glass or gold, true Art's true gifts, their painted hues more beautiful than nature's, worked in nacre and enamel, with perfect leaves and branches.
C.P. CavafyDays to come stand in front of us like a row of lighted candlesโ golden, warm, and vivid candles. Days gone by fall behind us, a gloomy line of snuffed-out candles; the nearest are smoking still, cold, melted, and bent. I donโt want to look at them: their shape saddens me, and it saddens me to remember their original light. I look ahead at my lighted candles. I donโt want to turn for fear of seeing, terrified, how quickly that dark line gets longer, how quickly the snuffed-out candles proliferate.
C.P. CavafyDonโt mourn your luck thatโs failing now, work gone wrong, your plans all proving deceptive โ donโt mourn them uselessly. As one long prepared, and graced with courage, say goodbye to her, the Alexandria that is leaving. Above all, donโt fool yourself, donโt say it was a dream, your ears deceived you: donโt degrade yourself with empty hopes like these.
C.P. Cavafy