Ionian

Portrait of Constantine P. Cavafy
Constantine P. Cavafy 1863–1933

Just because we've torn their statues down, and cast them from their temples, doesn't for a moment mean the gods are dead. Land of Ionia, they love you yet,

their spirits still remember you. When an August morning breaks upon you a vigour from their lives stabs through your air; and sometimes an ethereal and youthful form in swiftest passage, indistinct,

passes up above your hills.

Keep reading

Discover more of Constantine P. Cavafy’s poetry.

Explore all poems

Readers

Reader discussion

Your turn

Shown with your comment.

Never published. Only so we can reach you.

Comments are read before they appear. See our terms.