Constantine P. Cavafy

29 April 1863 – 29 April 1933 / Alexandria

He Had Planned To Read

He had planned to read. Two or three books lie open,
books by historians, by poets.
But he read for barely ten minutes,
then gave it up, falling half-asleep on the sofa.
He's completely devoted to books -
but he's twenty-three, and very good-looking;
and this afternoon Eros penetrated
his ideal flesh, his lips,
an erotic warmth penetrated
his lovely flesh-
with no ridiculous shame about the form the pleasure took....
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