He Came to Read
He came to read.
Two or three booksare open; historians and poets.
But he only read for ten minutes,and gave them up.
He is dozingon the sofa.
He is fully devoted to books but he is twenty-three years old, and he's very handsome;and this afternoon love passedthrough his ideal flesh, his lips.
Through his flesh which is full of beautythe heat of love passed;without any silly shame for the form of the enjoyment… ..
Original Greek:
Ηλθε για να διαβάσει
Ηλθε για να διαβάσει.
Είν' ανοιχτάδυο, τρία βιβλία· ιστορικοί και ποιηταί.
Μα μόλις διάβασε δέκα λεπτά,και τα παράτησε.
Στον καναπέμισοκοιμάται.
Ανήκει πλήρως στα βιβλία --αλλ' είναι είκοσι τριώ ετών, κ' είν' έμορφος πολύ·και σήμερα το απόγευμα πέρασ' ο έρωςστην ιδεώδη σάρκα του, στα χείλη.
Στη σάρκα του που είναι όλο καλλονήη θέρμη πέρασεν η ερωτική·χωρίς αστείαν αιδώ για την μορφή της απολαύσεως.....
Constantine P Cavafy
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