Cavafy told friends that he was not born a poet but became one with age. He distinguished between “pre-Cavafic” and genuinely “Cavafy” poems. What are some “Cavafy” characteristics, according to Cavafy? A voice that distances itself from immediate impressions, interest in human dramas that have aged, curiosity about “past things,” the desire to bring to life lesser-known historical periods, daring to speak of “hidden things.” Recurring themes are:

Age	History	The Art of Living	Classical Legacy	Alexandria