BusterStronghart@Gmail.com

Walls

Without regard, compassion or shame,
they built around me great high walls.

And I sit here now, and despair.
No other thought: My fate eats me.

Because I had so many things to do outside.
Alas, when they were building the walls
How could I not pay attention?

But I never heard noise from the builders, not a
sound.
Without my notice the closed me in from the world
outside.

C. P. Cavafy, 1896 - '97

translator: Alan A. Boegehold


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Walls

Without pity, without shame, without consideration
They've built around me enormous, towering walls.

And I sit here now in growing desperation.
This fate consumes my mind, I think of nothing else:

Because I had so many things to do out there.
O while they built the walls, why did I not look out?

But no noise, no sound from the builders did I hear.
Imperceptively they shut me off from the world without.

C.P. Cavafy, 1896-'97

Translator, Daniel Mendelson.

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Here's a weaker translation:

Walls
With no consideration, no pity, no shame,
they have built walls around me, thick and high.
And now I sit here feeling hopeless.
I can't think of anything else: this fate gnaws my mind -
because I had so much to do outside.
When they were building the walls, how could I not have noticed!
But I never heard the builders, not a sound.
Imperceptibly they have closed me off from the outside world.

Constantine P. Cavafy

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"who built these walls? -- me," for starters.

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BusterStronghart@Gmail.com

Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets through...

Jonathan Swift