Priest at the Serapeum
July 5, 2023I Went
July 5, 2023Picture of a 23-year-old Youth Painted by His Friend of the Same Age, an Amature
He finished the painting yesterday noon. Now
he studies it in detail. He has painted him in a
gray unbuttoned coat, a deep gray; without
any vest or any tie. With a rose-colored shirt;
open at the collar, so something might be seen
also of the beauty of his chest, of his neck.
The right temple is almost entirely
covered by his hair, his beautiful hair
(parted in the manner he prefers it this year).
There is the completely voluptuous tone
he wanted to put into it when he was doing the eyes,
when he was doing the lips…. His mouth, the lips
that are made for consummation, for choice love-making.
Constantine Cavafy
Constantine Cavafy (1863-1933) was a Greek poet who wrote in both Greek and English. His poetry was known for its rich imagery, historical allusions, and melancholic themes. Cavafy's notable works include "Ithaca," "The God Abandons Antony," and "Waiting for the Barbarians."