Quatrain 122 from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
این چرخ فلک که ما در او حیرانیمفانوس خیال از او مثالی دانیم
خورشید چراغدان و عالم فانوسما چون صوریم کاندر او حیرانیم
Description:
A Beautiful Rubai by Omar Khayyam
English Translation:
This spinning sky in which we're lost and blind,
Let's liken it to a lantern of the mind.
The sun's the lampstand, the world a lantern's light,
And we are shadows, wandering in the night.
Analysis of the Rubai
This quatrain by Omar Khayyam offers a profound meditation on the nature of the universe and humanity's place within it.
The Cosmic Lantern: Khayyam compares the universe to a lantern, suggesting it's a creation, with a source of light (the sun) illuminating the world.
Humanity as Shadows: We, humans, are depicted as shadows flickering within this cosmic lantern, suggesting our transient and illusory nature.
The Illusion of Reality: The poem hints at the idea that our perception of reality might be an illusion, a mere reflection of a greater light.
Deeper Meanings and Interpretations
The Search for Meaning: The poem invites the reader to contemplate the universe and our place within it, encouraging a search for deeper meaning.
The Illusion of Self: By comparing humans to shadows, Khayyam suggests that our sense of self might be an illusion, a mere reflection of a greater reality.
The Cosmic Perspective: The poem offers a cosmic perspective, placing human existence in a vast and mysterious universe.