Constantine P. Cavafy (1863-1933)
I just learned that Greece has declared 2013 the Year of Cavafy, it being the 150th anniversary of his birth. This is my favorite Cavafy poem; please post yours!
The Bandaged Shoulder
Constantine P. Cavafy
He said he'd hurt himself against a wall or had fallen down.
But there was probably some other reason
for the wounded, the bandaged shoulder.
With a rather abrupt gesture,
as he reached for a shelf to bring down
some photographs he wanted to look at,
the bandage came undone and a little blood ran.
I did it up again, taking my time
over the binding; he wasn't in pain
and I liked looking at the blood.
It was a thing of my love, that blood.
When he left, I found, in front of his chair,
a bloody rag, part of the dressing,
a rag to be thrown straight into the garbage;
and I put it to my lips
and kept it there a long while-
the blood of love against my lips.
translated from the Greek by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard
The Bandaged Shoulder
Constantine P. Cavafy
He said he'd hurt himself against a wall or had fallen down.
But there was probably some other reason
for the wounded, the bandaged shoulder.
With a rather abrupt gesture,
as he reached for a shelf to bring down
some photographs he wanted to look at,
the bandage came undone and a little blood ran.
I did it up again, taking my time
over the binding; he wasn't in pain
and I liked looking at the blood.
It was a thing of my love, that blood.
When he left, I found, in front of his chair,
a bloody rag, part of the dressing,
a rag to be thrown straight into the garbage;
and I put it to my lips
and kept it there a long while-
the blood of love against my lips.
translated from the Greek by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard