Constantinos Cavafys

Constantinos Cavafys is one of the most important Greek poets of the early 20th century. 

He was born in Alexandria on the 29th of April 1963 and died οn the day of his birthday, 29th of April, 1933 at the age of 70. 

In his poetic collection there are 154 poems that he, himself recognized, 37 poems of romantic context which he denounced, 75 poems which he did not publish and 30 poems which he never finished. (reference)

Baring in mind the prejudices that existed during Cavafys lifetime, it was not a secret that he was a homosexual. In fact, his romantic poems demonstrated his sexual orientation. He however, justified his approach, by writing that the aim of those poems was to 'share some light and emotion to the ones that are made like me' (reference)

Cavafys' poems whether of romantic context or not, hide a paradise of images, thoughts and feelings which always resonate with the reader.

In The Street

His attractive face a bit pale,

his brown eyes looking tired, dazed,

twenty-five years old but could be taken for twenty,

with something of the artist in the way he dresses

-the colour of his tie, shape of his collar-

he drifts aimlessly down the street,

as though still hypnotized by the illicit pleasure,

the very illicit pleasure he's just experienced.

Constantine P. Cavafy (reference)

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