Pluck the Day




"Metaphors may map to similar meanings across languages, but their subtle difference can have a profound effect on our understanding of the world."
~ Chi Luu

Recently, I came across the popular Latin phrase Carpe diem, which is commonly translated into English as "Seize the day." I found it quite interesting, so I decided to dig deeper, and I was shocked.

The original phrase doesn't mean "Seize the day" but rather "Pluck the day." Now, you might say the difference isn't much, but this error in translation actually alters the intended meaning of the phrase.

What comes to mind when you hear "Seize the day" versus "Pluck the day"?

Where does this phrase come from? It actually originated in a poem.

Carpe diem was first found in the Roman poet Horace’s Odes. Now, poetry can be interpreted in many ways, even when read in its original language, but translating poetry? That’s a whole new challenge.

According to Latin scholar Maria S. Marsilio, "Carpe diem is a horticultural metaphor that, particularly seen in the context of the poem, is more accurately translated as 'plucking the day,' evoking the image of gathering ripe fruits."

Dearest reader, do you see the power of translations? Plucking is very different from seizing. When you think of the word seize, I bet what comes to mind is forceful action. But to pluck something means it must first be ripe. You don’t just pluck randomly, it’s not forceful; it’s intentional and timely.

I hope you found this as enlightening as I did. I’ll leave you with the complete sentence:

"Pluck the day, trusting as little as possible to the future."

If you get it, you get it!




@favvy_Okwansđź–¤.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"NOT ADMITTED"

Image
She clicks on the Whatsapp group chat,  Yet another "Congratulations, you've been admitted", with her heart heavy, she angrily leaves the group, minimize out of Whatsapp. There she is patiently waiting for chrome to load her admission status, this is the third time today she's logging into her jamb caps.  Her eyes almost eager with hope, she muttered under her breath, "God please" The network server makes matter worst by going sluggishly as she clickes "Regular admission status" she closes her eyes, hoping against hope, praying fervently, that this time it'd be different.  But it's not, because as she opens her eyes slowly, she's greeted with an arrogantly boldly written, "NOT ADMITTED", screaming at her. Suddenly the dam breaks.  Silently, tears begin to stream down her eyes, taking a rather familiar router via her chin.  The urge to throw her phone across the room intensifies, she wishes she could will her admission into exi...
Read more

TEAM WORK

Image
It can be quite frustrating when a collective effort results in only one person receiving all the praise. Even if my contribution is just 1%, it shouldn’t be overlooked. You never know how these small efforts can make a significant difference. My bubugaga is back from school, and today we did a lot of tidying up. It’s amazing how I suddenly find the energy to work when she's around, despite my usual laziness. After completing so much work, we took a break—we were honestly worn out. Fast forward to the end of the day: everyone applauded her for a job well done, as though it was solely her effort. It felt off because I felt I deserved some recognition too—it was teamwork, after all. So, the point is, you never know how hurtful it can be when someone's effort goes unacknowledged. No matter how small the contribution, appreciate it alongside the major ones. Dearest reader, do you find yourself annoyed like myself when your effort is overlooked in a team work?  @favvy_Ok...
Read more

LESS THAN ONE.

Image
There are days when my arms are too heavy to hold a pen, my brain too disorganized to put a sentence together, my thoughts an unending swirl of emotions. But then there are days—days when my smile can break through your screen, invade your life, and steal alongside your heart. Days when my excitement can be likened to that of a 2-year-old, where my inquisitiveness and curiosity know no bounds. Well, today is the latter. But like a poet I love once said, "Even if the light's turned on and my fears are not gone, I'll give it my best shot because the show must go on." So, I'd like to talk about something today: the idea of "LESS THAN ONE." But before we dive into this, allow me to tell you a story. ***** Once upon a time, I had a friend. You know that feeling of being friends with the girl every guy wants, so you get a lot of "Please help me talk to your friend"? In school, we had our lunch bought by different guys each day—one of the ...
Read more