Constantine Cavafy

Constantine P. Cavafy  was born in Alexandria in 1863. His parents were both Greek and he is a famous poet who lived and worked most of his life in Alexandria. Cavafy was a cosmopolitan by his birth because his family roots extended from Constantinople to London (via Alexandria, Trebizond, Chios, Trieste, Venice and Vienna).

During his life he worked as journalist and civil servant. His poems were unusual due to versatile a craftsmanship which is almost completely lost in translations. Cavafy was a perfectionist and he obsessively refined every single line of his poetry.

One of the most known of his poems is Ithaca, written in 1911. The theme is an enjoyment of the journey of life and the increasing maturity of the soul as that journey continues.  
Cavafy never published his poems in book form and refused at least two offers. He opted to publish his poems in newspapers, periodicals and annuals. Then he printed them privately in broadsheets which he would collate in some makeshift collections.

Cavafy died in 1933 because of cancer of the larynx. Since his death, Cavafy's reputation has grown. He is now considered as one of the finest  modern Greek poets.
His poetry is taught at schools around the world.

Ithaca