Finalities
Amid fear and suspicions,with agitated mind and frightened eyes,we melt and plan how to actto avoid the certaindanger that so horribly threatens us.
And yet we err, this was not in our paths;the messages were false(or we did not hear, or fully understand them).
Another catastrophe, one we never imagined,sudden, precipitous, falls upon us,and unprepared — there is no more time — carries us off.
Greek Original:
Μέσα στον φόβο και στες υποψίεςμε ταραγμένο νου και τρομαγμένα μάτια,λυώνουμε και σχεδιάζουμε το πώς να κάμουμεγια ν' αποφύγουμε τον βέβαιοτον κίνδυνο που έτσι φρικτά μας απειλεί.
Κι όμως λανθάνουμε, δεν είν' αυτός στον δρόμο·ψεύτικα ήσαν τα μηνύματα(ή δεν τ' ακούσαμε, ή δεν τα νοιώσαμε καλά.
Αλλη καταστροφή, που δεν την φανταζόμεθαν,εξαφνική, ραγδαία πέφτει πάνω μας,κι ανέτοιμους -- πού πια καιρός -- μας συνεπαίρνει.
Constantine P Cavafy
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