Hidden Things by C.P. Cavafy

David Hockney, Portrait of Cavafy

From all I did and all I said,

let no one try to find out who I was.

An obstacle was there that changed the                 pattern

Of my actions and the manner of my life.

An obstacle was often there

To stop me when I’d begin to speak.

From my most unnoticed actions,

My most veiled writing –

From these alone will I be understood.

But maybe it isn’t worth so much concern,

So much effort to discover who I really am.

Later, in a more perfect society,

Someone else made just like me

Is certain to appear and act freely.

Translated by Edmund Keely/Philip Sherrard