As much as you can: a meaningful poem

“As much as you can” is a poem written in 1913 by Konstantinos Kavafis. The poet suggests that one should manage his personal life. HOW? Konstantinos indicates a moral standing and a measured social life. By limiting social activities and gatherings both adults and teenagers could live decently. It is simple and difficult at the same time. Kavafis comprehends that sometimes people cannot control their lives, because they face adverse situations.

As much as you can,
by K.K.



And if you can’t shape your life the way you want,
at least try as much as you can
not to degrade it
by too much contact with the world,
by too much activity and talk.
 
Try not to degrade it by dragging it along,
taking it around and exposing it so often
to the daily silliness
of social events and parties
until it comes to seem a boring hanger-on.

According to the poem, socializing could damage humans. Through parties or events teens waste their lives and suffer “alienation”, that means we often lose ourselves, our identity and the special characteristics that make us stand out from the crowd.

As much as you can — Poem by Kavafis Konstantinos

About the poet

Konstantinos Kavafis (1864-1933) best known for his beautiful poem “Ithaca“, was born in Egypt to greek parents. He is considered to be one of the most highly esteemed modern poet of Greece, even though he lived only briefly there.

After the death of his father, the family fell into poverty and moved to England. There he spent most of his childhood. More financial distress pulled the family to Greece, then back to Egypt, where Cavafy worked as a journalist and as a stockbroker. But the bulk of his professional life was spent at a government agency.

Cavafy was never famous in his lifetime and didn’t seem interested in pursuing recognition. He printed his poems in pamphlets which he distributed to his friends. He died at age seventy in 1933.

“As much as you can” is a poem that he wrote in order to remind others and himself about the behaviour we should have along the way. The message of the poem is to spend more time with yourself, for the reason that young (and older ones) people would gain self-awareness and will be firm in their beliefs.

See more about the poet:

https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9A%CF%89%CE%BD%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%AF%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%82_%CE%9A%CE%B1%CE%B2%CE%AC%CF%86%CE%B7%CF%82