SOURCE: An introduction to Passions and Ancient Days: New Poems, translated by Edmund Keeley and George Savidis, The Dial Press, 1971, pp. ix-xxiii.

In the following excerpt, Keeley and Savidis discuss the nature, scope, and characteristics of Cavafy's poetry as well as his reluctance to publish poetry during his lifetime.

C. P. Cavafy's mode of publishing—or not publishing—his poems was as original in its way as the poetry itself became once he found his mature voice. The implications of this mode help to explain why it was not until some thirty years after his death that the poems included in the selection offered here finally appeared in print to complete the known corpus of Cavafy's work.

By my postponing, and repostponing to publish, what a gain I have had!

Think of … trash [written] at the age of 25, 26, 27, and 28, of Byzantine poems … and many others which would disgrace...