June 14, 2003: Difference between revisions
From Gerald R. Lucas
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<poem> | <poem> | ||
When I went to that house of pleasure | When I went to that house of pleasure | ||
I | I didn’t stay in the front rooms where they celebrate, | ||
with some decorum, the accepted modes of love. | with some decorum, the accepted modes of love. | ||
I went into the secret rooms | I went into the secret rooms | ||
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I went into the secret rooms | I went into the secret rooms | ||
considered shameful even to name. | considered shameful even to name. | ||
But not shameful to me | But not shameful to me — because if they were, | ||
what kind of poet, what kind of artist would I be? | what kind of poet, what kind of artist would I be? | ||
I’d rather be an ascetic. That would be more in keeping, | |||
much more in keeping with my poetry, | much more in keeping with my poetry, | ||
than for me to find pleasure in the commonplace rooms. | than for me to find pleasure in the commonplace rooms. | ||
Revision as of 10:00, 11 December 2019
And I Lounged and Lay on Their Beds
By: C. P. Cavafy
When I went to that house of pleasure
I didn’t stay in the front rooms where they celebrate,
with some decorum, the accepted modes of love.
I went into the secret rooms
and lounged and lay on their beds.
I went into the secret rooms
considered shameful even to name.
But not shameful to me — because if they were,
what kind of poet, what kind of artist would I be?
I’d rather be an ascetic. That would be more in keeping,
much more in keeping with my poetry,
than for me to find pleasure in the commonplace rooms.
