A crucial part of poetry is the ability to be selective with words, using connotation to communicate a specific mood, tone, idea or feeling that will create an atmosphere in the writing. In “Ithaka” the words are specifically chosen to create desirable mental associations. Instead of directly saying, you should experience your life to the fullest, Cavafy encourages the reader to buy fine, rare and exotic things such as “mother of pearl”, “coral”, “amber”, “ebony”,  and “sensual perfumes of every kind”. These words create strong imagery that our minds generally associate with living lavishly.

To highlight and emphasize on certain actions or ideas, Cavafy precedes them with repetitious words. For example, “full of adventure, full of discovery”, “ as long as you keep your thoughts raised high/ as long as a rare excitement / stirs your spirit and your body” and “Unless you bring them along inside your soul, / Unless your soul sets them up in front of you”. This technique emphasises the importance of distancing yourself from routines (a life full of adventure and discovery), keeping up your morales (raising thoughts high and being excited), and not dwelling on life’s obstacles (unless you bring these obstacles inside your soul, you won’t encounter them).