God Abandons Anthony - Cavafy

When suddenly, at midnight, you hear 
an invisible procession going by 
with exquisite music, voices, 
don’t mourn your luck that’s failing now, 
work gone wrong, your plans 
all proving deceptive—don’t mourn them uselessly. 
As one long prepared, and graced with courage, 
say goodbye to her, the Alexandria that is leaving. 
Above all, don’t fool yourself, don’t say 
it was a dream, your ears deceived you: 
don’t degrade yourself with empty hopes like these. 
As one long prepared, and graced with courage, 
as is right for you who were given this kind of city, 
go firmly to the window 
and listen with deep emotion, but not 
with the whining, the pleas of a coward; 
listen—your final delectation—to the voices, 
to the exquisite music of that strange procession, 
and say goodbye to her, to the Alexandria you are losing