Constantine P. Cavafy
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| - | '''''Waiting for the Barbarians''''' is a [[Greek language|Greek]] poem by [[Constantine P. Cavafy]], written in November 1898 and first published in 1904. It depicts a day in an unnamed city-state where everything has come to a halt because the population is awaiting the arrival of "the barbarians", who they plan to welcome. | + | '''Constantine P. Cavafy''' ( also known as '''Konstantin''' or '''Konstantinos Petrou Kavafis''', or '''Kavaphes'''; {{lang-el|Κωνσταντίνος Π. Καβάφης}}; April 29 (April 17, [[Old Style|OS]]), 1863 – April 29, 1933) was an ethnic [[Greeks|Greek]] poet who lived in [[Alexandria]] and worked as a [[journalist]] and [[civil servant]]. He published 154 poems; dozens more remained incomplete or in sketch form. His most important poetry was written after his fortieth birthday. |
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| - | [[Daniel Mendelsohn]] (one of many translators who has produced an English version of "Waiting") has said that the poem's portrayal of a state whose lawmakers sit in stagnant idleness was "particularly prescient" in light of the [[United States federal government shutdown of 2013]]. | + | |
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| - | [[Robert Pinsky]] has described it as "cunning" and "amusing". [[Charles Simić]] has called it "an apt description of any state that needs enemies, real or imaginary, as a perpetual excuse", while ''[[the Independent]]'' considered the poem's final line evocative of "the dangers implied by the end of the [[Cold War]]". | + | |
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Constantine P. Cavafy ( also known as Konstantin or Konstantinos Petrou Kavafis, or Kavaphes; Template:Lang-el; April 29 (April 17, OS), 1863 – April 29, 1933) was an ethnic Greek poet who lived in Alexandria and worked as a journalist and civil servant. He published 154 poems; dozens more remained incomplete or in sketch form. His most important poetry was written after his fortieth birthday.
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Constantine P. Cavafy" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
