<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><div>Jane - thanks for sending the poem. It is one to take to heart.</div><div><br></div><div>Nancy</div><div style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><br><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><hr size="1"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> Jane M. Hill <jhill@cybermesa.com><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> oxford63@cyber-community.com<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Wed, September 14, 2011 3:35:21 PM<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> [Oxford63] Jackie Kennedy Onassis<br></font><br>
Dear Classmates,<br>
<br>
Last night I caught most of an ABC special that played some of the
newly released interview with Jackie, taped sometime before her
death. In the last 60 seconds Diane Sawyer said that during the
production they (whoever they are) had looked for a poem that was
important to Jackie and somehow characterized her spirit. She said
that they came up with "keep your spirits high and hope that the
journey is a long one" (close enough). I was floored! That's C.P.
Cavafy, a Greek poet that lived in Alexandria in the first half of
the 20th century. In the <u>Alexandrian Quartet</u>, in fact,
Lawrence Durrell referred to Cavafy as "the old man of the city".<br>
<br>
Since almost all of us read the Odyssey in Miss Jarrell's 8th grade
English, I thought I would like to share the poem in question. It is
not the best translation (and certainly not mine), but "Ithaca" is a
great piece of poetry. My son also found a YouTube of the poem read
by Sean Connery! It's hokey but fun:<br>
<br><span>
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvcZxjQvq4I">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvcZxjQvq4I</a></span><br>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
<p> *** Jane ***<br>
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<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.cybermesa.com/ContactCM%5C"><i>Local Contact
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<h2><font color="#000000">Ithaca</font></h2>
<font color="#000000">
When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,<br>
pray that the road is long,<br>
full of adventure, full of knowledge.<br>
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,<br>
the angry Poseidon -- do not fear them:<br>
You will never find such as these on your path,<br>
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine<br>
emotion touches your spirit and your body.<br>
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,<br>
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,<br>
if you do not carry them within your soul,<br>
if your soul does not set them up before you.<br>
<br>
Pray that the road is long.<br>
That the summer mornings are many, when,<br>
with such pleasure, with such joy<br>
you will enter ports seen for the first time;<br>
stop at Phoenician markets,<br>
and purchase fine merchandise,<br>
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,<br>
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,<br>
as many sensual perfumes as you can;<br>
visit many Egyptian cities,<br>
to learn and learn from scholars.<br>
<br>
Always keep Ithaca in your mind.<br>
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.<br>
But do not hurry the voyage at all.<br>
It is better to let it last for many years;<br>
and to anchor at the island when you are old,<br>
rich with all you have gained on the way,<br>
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.<br>
<br>
Ithaca has given you the beautiful journey.<br>
Without her you would have never set out on the road.<br>
She has nothing more to give you.<br>
<br>
And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.<br>
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,<br>
you will understand what the Ithacas mean.<br>
<br>
<br>
<em>Constantine P. Cavafy (1911)</em></font>
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