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poliphilo ([personal profile] poliphilo) wrote2024-07-18 06:54 am

Anima, Vagula, Blandula

A blogger I read was talking about the Emperor Hadrian's little poem, Anima, Vagula, Blandula, in which a dying philosopher says "goodbye" to his departing spirit.  There are over 100 published translations of it and many more that are unpublished.  On the principle that you can never have too much of a good thing- I thought I'd add another.

Here we go,

Funny, endearing, little ghost,
Apprehensive, thin as air,
Off you go to who-knows-where.
It's been such a joy to be your host.
I hope they like your jokes out there....