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As you set out for Ithaka

hope your road is a long one,

full of adventure, full of discovery.

Laistrygonians, Cyclops,

angry Poseidon—don’t be afraid of them:

you’ll never find things like that on your way

as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,

as long as a rare excitement

stirs your spirit and your body.

Laistrygonians, Cyclops,

wild Poseidon—you won’t encounter them

unless you bring them along inside your soul,

unless your soul sets them up in front of you.

Hope your road is a long one.

May there be many summer mornings when,

with what pleasure, what joy,

you enter harbors you’re seeing for the first time;

may you stop at Phoenician trading stations

to buy fine things,

mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,

sensual perfume of every kind—

as many sensual perfumes as you can;

and may you visit many Egyptian cities

to learn and go on learning from their scholars.

Keep Ithaka always in your mind.

Arriving there is what you’re destined for.

But don’t hurry the journey at all.

Better if it lasts for years,

so you’re old by the time you reach the island,

wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way,

not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.

Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.

Without her you wouldn't have set out.

She has nothing left to give you now.

And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you.

Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,

you’ll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.

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Some allusions in this poem mention Odysseus’ obstacles like the Laestrygonians, the man-eating giants, the Cyclops Polyphemus, and Poseidon.

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This poem also alludes to the length of Odysseus’ journey. The poetic thinks that the long journey was a good thing, but Odysseus wanted to go home sooner.

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The allegorical instructional purposes of these examples are that your journey maybe along one, and you may want to rush it, but don’t. A long journey teaches many lessons. And even if you Emet monsters along the way, don’t be afraid because unless you let them in your soul, they can’t really bother you. Obstacles are a part of the journey and the tis ok.

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A connection between the Alchemist and the Odyssey is that the main characters both have obstacles to deal with. They also both deal with dreams. Leading a fulfilling life is not all about reaching your goal or dream; it is also about overcoming obstacles and learning from them and enjoying the journey.

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I contributed to all of these.