A handwritten English translation of Cavafy's poem 'Walls', composed by John Cavafy.

Walls

Without forbearance, without pity, without shame
they built big walls and high, and encompassed me about.

And now I sit here helpless, reasoning in despair.

It wears away my heart and brain this evil fate,
because outside I have so many things that wait.

O why when they were building did I not take care!

But I never heard them build, never knew them when they came.
Imperceptibly they closed the world and shut me out.