«Ἡδονή», ἕνα ποίημα τοῦ Κ. Π. Καβάφη

Ἡδονή

Χαρὰ καὶ μύρο τῆς ζωῆς μου ἡ μνήμη τῶν ὡρῶν
ποὺ ηὗρα καὶ ποὺ κράτηξα τὴν ἡδονὴ ὥς την ἤθελα.
Χαρὰ καὶ μύρο τῆς ζωῆς μου ἐμένα, ποὺ ἀποστράφηκα
τὴν κάθε ἀπόλαυσιν ἐρώτων τῆς ρουτίνας.

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To Sensual Pleasure

My life’s joy and incense: recollection of those hours
when I found and captured sensual pleasure as I wanted it.
My life’s joy and incense: that I refused
all indulgence in routine love affairs.

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Κ. Π. Καβάφης, Ποιήματα 1897-1933, εκδόσεις Ίκαρος, Αθήνα, 1984.

Μετάφραση: Edmund Keeley/Philip Sherrard, (Πηγή)