. WALLS .

WALLS

Without consideration, without pity, without shame

they built great towering walls all around me.

And I sit here now despairing.

I think of nothing else; this fate gnaws at my mind;

for I had so many things to do outside.

Why didn’t I notice when they were building walls.

But I never heard any noise or sound of builders.

Imperceptibly they shut me off from the world.

Constantine P. Cavafy

(Translation by David Connolly)