Constantine P. Cavafy, "Desires"
DESIRES
Like beautiful bodies of the dead that haven't aged
and were locked in a brilliant mausoleum with tears,
with roses at their heads and jasmine at their feet,
that is what desires look like when they pass
without having being fulfilled, without even
a single night of passion, or a shining morning.
CONSTANTINE P. CAVAFY
Translated from the Greek by Aliki Barnstone and Willis Barnstone
Like beautiful bodies of the dead that haven't aged
and were locked in a brilliant mausoleum with tears,
with roses at their heads and jasmine at their feet,
that is what desires look like when they pass
without having being fulfilled, without even
a single night of passion, or a shining morning.
CONSTANTINE P. CAVAFY
Translated from the Greek by Aliki Barnstone and Willis Barnstone