Quatrain Six from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Quatrain Six from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
By
@hamed
مائیم و می و مطرب و این کنج خراب
جان دل و جام و جامه پر دُرد شراب
فارغ ز امید رحمت و بیم عذاب
آزاد ز خاک و باد و از آتش و آب
Description:
A Note on the Presented Rubai
The rubai presented here is one of the most famous and often quoted works of Omar Khayyam. It encapsulates many of the recurring themes in his poetry: the transience of life, the pleasures of the moment, and the indifference of the universe.
English Translation
A more literal translation
We are, and wine, and music, and this ruined corner,
A soul, and a cup, and garments stained with wine.
Free from hope of mercy and fear of torment,
Freed from earth, and wind, and fire, and water.
A more poetic and interpretive translation
We, wine, and music, in this crumbling place,
A soul, a cup, stained by wine's embrace.
Beyond hope's embrace or fear's cold hand,
Free as the wind, unbound by land or sand.
A more contemporary and informal translation
It's just us, wine, music, and this broken room,
A soul, a cup, filled with wine's bitter gloom.
No heaven, no hell, no fear, no hope,
Just us, adrift, on life's endless slope.
"مائیم و می و مطرب و این کنج خراب": This line sets the scene of a solitary, somewhat desolate existence, filled with the simple pleasures of wine and music.
"جان در و جام و جامه پر دُرد شراب": Here, the soul (جان) is intertwined with the cup (جام) and the garments stained with wine, suggesting a deep connection between the individual and these worldly pleasures.
"فارغ ز امید رحمت و بیم عذاب": This line indicates a detachment from religious beliefs and the associated hopes and fears.
"آزاد ز خاک و باد و از آتش و آب": This final line emphasizes a sense of freedom from the elements and the physical world, suggesting a more spiritual or philosophical detachment.
Themes and Interpretations
This rubai has been interpreted in various ways over the centuries. Some common themes include:
Carpe diem: The emphasis on enjoying the present moment and seeking pleasure is a classic carpe diem theme.
Skepticism: The lines about being free from hope and fear suggest a skeptical or agnostic outlook on life.
Materialism vs. spirituality: There is a tension between the material pleasures (wine, music) and the spiritual longing (the soul) in this verse.
The transience of life: The image of a ruined corner and the reference to the elements emphasize the impermanent nature of existence.