Carpe Diem

[austintorn@aol.com]

Collige virgo rosas.
gather, girl, the roses

Memento mori.
remember that you are mortal



Tu ne quaesieris, scire nefas, quem mihi, quem tibi
Leuconoe, don't ask — it's dangerous to know —

finem di dederint, Leuconoe, nec Babylonios
what end the gods will give me or you. Don't play with Babylonian

temptaris numeros. ut melius, quidquid erit, pati.
fortune-telling either. Better just deal with whatever comes your way.

seu pluris hiemes seu tribuit Iuppiter ultimam,
Whether you'll see several more winters or whether the last one

quae nunc oppositis debilitat pumicibus mare
Jupiter gives you is the one even now pelting the rocks on the shore with the waves

Tyrrhenum: sapias, vina liques et spatio brevi
of the Tyrrhenian sea--be smart, drink your wine. Scale back your long hopes

spem longam reseces. dum loquimur, fugerit invida
to a short period. Even as we speak, envious time

aetas: carpe diem quam minimum credula postero.
is running away from us. Seize the day, trusting little in the future.

(Horace)







Does anyone want to see a story
of the passionate embrace of reality
through living in the now—the only time we have
between life's parentheses of birth and death?

[Profpat]

Hi Austin;

Does anyone want to see a story
of the passionate embrace of reality
through living in the now—the only time we have
between life's parentheses of birth and death?

I would love to see the story.

Best to you,

Pat

[austintorn@aol.com]

OK, Prof, but first an advertisement to pay the bills.

[austintorn@aol.com]

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(Some incomplete or useless pages skipped)

[Profpat]

Very good so far Austin. I hope it will have a happy ending. BTW: Where do I buy this Persia-fume?

Best to you,

Pat

[austintorn@aol.com]

Prof,

The Persa-fume cannot be bought,
but emanates from certain old books
or arises from Omar Khayyam's grave site in Persia, now Iran…



or, as I say,

— Omar’s Persia-Fume —

Through his Rubàiyàt, I sense enchantment,
Essence distilled by the translator’s scent;
Recomposed from Khayyàm’s dust and spirit,
Potent elixirs escape interment!



For an old book,
use your professorship to gain entry
to the Bodleian Library at Oxford
near closing time…



…then steal into the rare books sections and hide;
then, after you hear the locks slip into place,
enter the rear room just before the lasers go on.
You will see this fellow
who is Omar's ghost or perhaps is actually him…



…or just keep reading my story
and be overtaken unawares by the fumes…

[Profpat]

I think I'll just keep reading your story Austin. I'm not very adventuresome. I'm more like a hobbit I like staying at home.

Best,

Pat

[austintorn@aol.com]

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[austintorn@aol.com]

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[austintorn@aol.com]

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