By Constantine Cavafy
The Poem Ithaca of Constantine Cavafy: Since Homer's Odyssey, Ithaca symbolizes the destination of a long journey, the suppreme aim that every man tries to fulfill all his life long, the sweet homeland, the eternal calmness and satisfaction…
Many artists and literary people have been inspired by this interpretation of Homer's poem and have given to this small island of the Ionian Sea a special sense. Famous poets have been inspired by Ithaca and have used its name metaphorically on their works.
The most famous poem about Ithaca has been written by the renowned Greek poet Constantine Cavafy and is entitled "Ithaca". There he makes an allusion of the legendary journey of Ulysses to the journey of every man through life and suggests that each person is looking for his own Ithaca, his personal supreme goal. However, in the end, it is not the goal but the journey that matters, because this journey makes us wise and gives people the richest good: experience, knowledge and maturity.
This poem was written in 1911 and has been translated in many languages since then. Its lyric words and message are touching.
(http://www.greeka.com/ionian/ithaca/ithaca/ithaca-poem.htm)
