kurosawa, ithaca, and robert

a couple of weeks ago, i had a very sabog blog about kurosawa. i think it's about time i posted what i really thought.

i've always been an advocate of the school of thought that says that you should enjoy every moment; live each moment as if it were THE moment, and not just a stretch of time before you get to the next moment. in the end, you'll have lived your life without regrets. unfortunately, i don't always practice what i preach.

in highschool, we read this poem called "Ithaca," by Constantine Cavey. Here's how it goes:

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.

Pray that the road is long.

That the summer mornings are many, when,

with such pleasure, with such joy

you will enter ports seen for the first time;

stop at Phoenician markets,

and purchase fine merchandise,

mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,

and sensual perfumes of all kinds,

as many sensual perfumes as you can;

visit many Egyptian cities,

to learn and learn from scholars.

Always keep Ithaca in your mind.

To arrive there is your ultimate goal.

But do not hurry the voyage at all.

It is better to let it last for many years;

and to anchor at the island when you are old,

rich with all you have gained on the way,

not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.
Ithaca has
given you the beautiful voyage.

Without her you would have never set out on the road.

She has nothing more to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived
you.

Wise as you have become, with so much experience,

you must already have understood what Ithacas
mean.

see what i mean? isn't it a beautiful poem? this, i think, embodies Kurosawa's own philosophy (judging from what Sir Brion said) of not hurrying, of savoring every moment. anything else i say about this poem will be redundant, because it says it so beautifully. this is what poetry (and great quotes, too) is for: to be able to say--and say beautifully--thoughts and ideas that are present in the human mind.

this evening, as i was watching living asia, they flashed this quote from robert louis stevenson:

For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.

Wonderful. I think i share the same feelings myself. This is probably why i just want to GO. It's not that i'm not content where i am right now. I love my life as it is, but i don't want it to remain as it is. I don't know if i said that right.

*sigh*

until next time... i'm such a lazy blogger. pfft.