Carpe Diem Carpe Diem Poetry:Poetry:

Seize the Day!Seize the Day!

Carpe DiemCarpe Diem

Literally means, “Literally means, “pluckpluck the day” as in the day” as in “plucking” or pulling flowers“plucking” or pulling flowers

Get it? Gather moments in life like you Get it? Gather moments in life like you would gather flowers?would gather flowers?

But remember, these moments don’t last But remember, these moments don’t last long; flowers cut off from the roots die long; flowers cut off from the roots die soon…soon…

OriginsOrigins

Attributed to the ancient Roman poet Horace, 65 Attributed to the ancient Roman poet Horace, 65 B.C.E.B.C.E.

Composed a book of poems entitled “Odes”Composed a book of poems entitled “Odes”

Scale back your long hopes Scale back your long hopes

to a short period. While we to a short period. While we speak, time is envious and speak, time is envious and

is running away from us.is running away from us.Seize the day, trusting Seize the day, trusting little in the future. little in the future.

Other Versions of This Same ThemeOther Versions of This Same Theme

““Eat, drink, and be merry, for Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we will die.” --biblical tomorrow we will die.” --biblical reference (Isaiah)reference (Isaiah)

"collige, virgo, rosas" appears in a "collige, virgo, rosas" appears in a Virgil (another classical Roman Virgil (another classical Roman poet) poem, meaning "gather, girl, poet) poem, meaning "gather, girl, the roses."the roses."

Carpe DiemCarpe Diem Defined… Defined…

Remember what Robin Remember what Robin Williams (Mr. Keating) said Williams (Mr. Keating) said about the original purpose of about the original purpose of language? What did he say?language? What did he say?

Carpe DiemCarpe Diem Defined… Defined…

Right! To Right! To woo woo women…women…

WooWoo means to convince or means to convince or persuade; in the Renaissance, persuade; in the Renaissance, the purpose of a the purpose of a carpe diemcarpe diem poem was to persuade a young poem was to persuade a young woman to make love…woman to make love…

Carpe DiemCarpe Diem (poetic sense) (poetic sense)

A poem intended to persuade A poem intended to persuade a young woman to become a a young woman to become a lover by convincing her that lover by convincing her that time (and most usually her time (and most usually her beauty) is fleeting (quickly beauty) is fleeting (quickly disappearing).disappearing).

Another Approach…Another Approach…

““Other approaches to Other approaches to carpe diemcarpe diem encourage the reader to encourage the reader to transcendtranscend the the mundanemundane, recognize the , recognize the power power of each of each momentmoment, however brief, , however brief, and and value possibilityvalue possibility for as long as for as long as possibility exists.”—Academy of possibility exists.”—Academy of American Poets American Poets

Modern/Contemporary ApproachModern/Contemporary Approach

Because Because carpe diemcarpe diem begins with begins with the premise that life is short, the premise that life is short, modern readers see this as modern readers see this as “possibility” but also “futility” “possibility” but also “futility” (pointlessness)(pointlessness)

ExistentialismExistentialism In the literary world, when life is In the literary world, when life is

seen as pointless and useless, seen as pointless and useless, we have entered the school of we have entered the school of existential thought (existentialism)existential thought (existentialism)

Life in this world is a big “so Life in this world is a big “so

what?” Life is short and doesn’t what?” Life is short and doesn’t matter, so “who cares?”matter, so “who cares?”

Grown Up DefinitionGrown Up Definition

The existential dilemma The existential dilemma suggested by suggested by carpe diemcarpe diem includes includes a sense of a sense of helplessnesshelplessness and and senselessnesssenselessness, sentiments which , sentiments which are often expressed in a poet's are often expressed in a poet's resignationresignation to a life filled with to a life filled with inexplicable inexplicable losseslosses and and hardshipshardships..—Academy of American Poets—Academy of American Poets

Renaissance Carpe DiemRenaissance Carpe Diem

Let’s begin in the Renaissance with Robert Let’s begin in the Renaissance with Robert Herrick’s poem, “To the Virgins, to Make Herrick’s poem, “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time.”Much of Time.”

““To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time”To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time”

GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may, GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may,     Old time is still a-flying :     Old time is still a-flying : And this same flower that smiles today And this same flower that smiles today     To-morrow will be dying.    To-morrow will be dying.

““To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time”To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time”

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,     The higher he's a-getting,    The higher he's a-getting,The sooner will his race be run, The sooner will his race be run,     And nearer he's to setting.    And nearer he's to setting.

““To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time”To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time”

That age is best which is the first, That age is best which is the first,     When youth and blood are warmer ;     When youth and blood are warmer ; But being spent, the worse, and worst But being spent, the worse, and worst     Times still succeed the former.    Times still succeed the former.

““To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time”To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time”

Then be not coy, but use your time, Then be not coy, but use your time,     And while ye may go marry :     And while ye may go marry : For having lost but once your prime For having lost but once your prime     You may for ever tarry.    You may for ever tarry.