While at Cambridge I met Forster a few times (went round for tea as was said). Once even dared visit him in his rooms at King's bringing Allen Ginsberg with me. That was going too far.
Though AG well-meaningly (?) slipped under the door a charming note of self introduction, replete with scribbled daisies and skull-and-crossbones & c., EMF pretended not to be at home, so as to refuse us admission.
I knew then in my heart that much as decadence may well have secretly attracted and even compelled him, it would never be his cup of tea.
Thanks a lot, Joe—I consider this a real compliment coming as it does from someone who does not take his Cavafy lightly.
Tom,
Speaking of imbibing, you might like to know that up until the 1950s or thereabouts, the poems of a certain “decadent” Alexandrian were not the Greek Ministry of Education’s cup of tea either, since their high school literature anthology editors were very cautious in choosing which poems to present to the nation’s students—always the old standbys i.e., “Ithaca,” “Waiting for the Barbarians,” etc. The Old Man's "sensual" poems were taboo.
A perfect poem, Vassilis! I've tried writing about Cavafy before, with miserable results, so I'm especially envious of this one....
ReplyDeleteWhile at Cambridge I met Forster a few times (went round for tea as was said). Once even dared visit him in his rooms at King's bringing Allen Ginsberg with me. That was going too far.
ReplyDeleteThough AG well-meaningly (?) slipped under the door a charming note of self introduction, replete with scribbled daisies and skull-and-crossbones & c., EMF pretended not to be at home, so as to refuse us admission.
I knew then in my heart that much as decadence may well have secretly attracted and even compelled him, it would never be his cup of tea.
Thanks a lot, Joe—I consider this a real compliment coming as it does from someone who does not take his Cavafy lightly.
ReplyDeleteTom,
Speaking of imbibing, you might like to know that up until the 1950s or thereabouts, the poems of a certain “decadent” Alexandrian were not the Greek Ministry of Education’s cup of tea either, since their high school literature anthology editors were very cautious in choosing which poems to present to the nation’s students—always the old standbys i.e., “Ithaca,” “Waiting for the Barbarians,” etc. The Old Man's "sensual" poems were taboo.