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To Call up the Shades

Constantine P. Cavafy 1863 (Alexandria) – 1933 (Alexandria)

One candle is enough. Its gentle light
will be more suitable, will be more gracious
when the Shades arrive, the Shades of Love.
 
One candle is enough. Tonight the room
should not have too much light. In deep reverie,
all receptiveness, and with the gentle light—
in this deep reverie I will form visions
to call up the Shades, the Shades of Love.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

19 sec read
118

Quick analysis:

Scheme AXB XXAXB
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 349
Words 65
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 3, 5
Full analysis for To Call up the Shades »

Constantine P. Cavafy

Constantine P. Cavafy was a Greek poet who lived in Alexandria and worked as a journalist and civil servant. He published 154 poems; dozens more remained incomplete or in sketch form. His most important poetry was written after his fortieth birthday. more…

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    "To Call up the Shades" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/7268/to-call-up-the-shades>.

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