On the wall of our guest's home in Chennai, there was a picture titled Ithaka. It was the translation in images of the poem written by Greek poet Constantine Cavafy in 1911. I admit I had never heard of him or his poem before.
For three days, I watched this picture from far. I registered its presence but never went close enough to read it.
Until the very last day, when it was time for me to go.
I stood there in silence, alone in the room, and slowly read it.
Twice.
And then, for a brief moment, there was only silence. Or at least, that is what I felt because the only voice I could hear was an inside one. A sort of a whisper coming from nowhere.
You're not there yet. But don't hurry; arriving there is what you're destined for.
You can read the full poem here. And here you can admire the beautiful artwork of Gavin Aung that I saw in Chennai (from which the opening image is taken)
Or listen to it recited by the late Sean Connery
A few days ago, before finding this poem in Chennai, I wrote this article titled The journey never ends.