The God Abandons Antony

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"The God Abandons Anthony" is a poem by Constantine P. Cavafy, published in 1911. The poem refers to Plutarch's story of how Antony, besieged in Alexandria by Octavian, heard the sounds of instruments and voices making its way through the city, and then passed out; the god Bacchus (Dionysus), Antony's protector, was deserting him.

Leonard Cohen freely adapted "The God Abandons Antony" for his song "Alexandra Leaving" (Ten New Songs, 2002). [1] Whereas Cavafy's focus was on the city of Alexandria, Cohen's version concerns a man's loss of a woman named Alexandra.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Leonard Cohen Files