a little of the city that I loved

I love Cavafy, and I love this poem. I had several different Cavafy poems in the possible rotation for this month, but when it came right down to it, I think it had to be this one, this year.

Anyway those things would not have lasted long. The experience
of those years shows it to me. But Destiny arrived
in some haste and stopped them.
The beautiful life was brief.
But how potent were the perfumes,
on how splendid a bed we lay,
to what sensual delight we gave our bodies.

An echo of the days of pleasure,
an echo of the days drew near me,
a little of the fire of the youth of both of us;
again I took in my hands a letter,
and I read and reread till the light was gone.

And melancholy, I came out on the balcony—
came out to change my thoughts at least by looking at
a little of the city that I loved,
a little movement on the street, and in the shops.

—C. P. Cavafy (1863–1933), "In the Evening," 1917, translated by Rae Dalven (San Diego: Harcourt, 1948/1976).