When suddenly, at midnight, you hear <br />an invisible procession going by <br />with exquisite music, voices, <br />don't mourn your luck that's failing now, <br />work gone wrong, your plans <br />all proving deceptive -- don't mourn them uselessly. <br />As one long prepared, and graced with courage, <br />say goodbye to her, the Alexandria that is leaving. <br />Above all, don't fool yourself, don't say <br />it was a dream, your ears deceived you: <br />don't degrade yourself with empty hopes like these. <br />As one long prepared, and graced with courage, <br />as is right for you who were given this kind of city, <br />go firmly to the window <br />And listen with deep emotion, but not <br />with whining, the pleas of a coward; <br />listen -- your final delectation -- to the voices, <br />to the exquisite music of that strange procession, <br />and say goodbye to her, to the Alexandria you are losing.<br /><br />Constantine P. Cavafy<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-god-abandons-anthony/
