Let Ithaka be always in your thoughts.
To get there is your goal and destiny.
But do not hasten to your journey’s end:
it’s better if it lasts for many years
so that you'll reach the island when you’re old,
wealthy with all you’ve gained along the way,
not hoping Ithaka will make you rich.
Your marvellous journey is Ithaka’s gift.
Without her you would not have started out.
But she has nothing more to give you now.
And if you find she's poor, you’ve not been fooled.
So wise have you become, so much you’ve learned,
that you will know what Ithakas must be.
Source: Seen in passing on X-Twitter. Holler if you want the whole thing.
Author/Translator: Armand D'Angour, Professor of Classics, Oxford. Cello lover. Larkin about. Turning life into Latin verse, one hexameter at a time. Podcast “It’s All Greek (& Latin!) to Me”.
Posted: Feb 06
Isabel – looks impressive, but the head is still unprotected. Also, are they real metal spikes, or are they rubber?
When I was the BTSO at CFB Suffield in the early 1990’s , the PMQ residents used to lose about one small pet a month, either to coyotes or Great Horned Owls. It was usually a case of the unfortunate resident putting ‘Fluffy’ out to do his/her business just before going to bed and ‘Fluffy’ never coming back.
John – I don’t know whether the spikes are metal or rubber. They look real enough to deter *me* from picking up a small dog, especially with my mouth, but coyotes may be made of tougher stuff. I can well believe that coyotes and owls would hunt small pets, especially on the margins of built-up areas.