Artistic Expressions

Since Nine O'Clock

By C. P. Cavafy (1863-1933)

Half past twelve. The time has quickly passed
since nine o'clock when I first turned up the lamp
and sat down here. I've been sitting without reading,
without speaking. With whom should I speak,
so utterly alone within this house?

The apparition of my youthful body,
since nine o'clock when I first turned up the lamp,
has come and found me and reminded me
of shuttered perfumed rooms
and of pleasure spent—what wanton pleasure!
And it also brought before my eyes
streets made unrecognizable by time,
bustling city centres that are no more
and theatres and cafés that existed long ago.

The apparition of my youthful body
came and also brought me cause for pain:
deaths in the family; separations;
the feelings of my loved ones, the feelings of
those long dead which I so little valued.

Half past twelve. How the time has passed.
Half past twelve. How the years have passed.

Blue River

By Ianthia

Borne by currents
mighty and deep
my skiff floats
with precarious fervour
wavering
drowning almost
summoned
by the boundless, blue river

the water's salty
near the dusking sea
overflowing
after a long night of rain
carelessly ferrying
my damaged vessel.....