Mental Health Break

The Return of Odysseus, Claude Lorrain, 1644.
Originally uploaded by Image

I came across this Cavafy poem today -- it reminded me a bit of the POW passages in the speech given by John McCain (whose candidacy for President I do not support, but whose fundamental decency as a human being, at least before he met Steve Schmidt, is undeniable) the other night...

When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon -- do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you...