Quatrain 144 from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

Analysis of the Rubai

This quatrain by Omar Khayyam is a metaphorical exploration of knowledge and perception.

The Celestial and Terrestrial Cows: The two cows represent different realms of existence or knowledge: the celestial (Parvin, which refers to the Pleiades star cluster) and the terrestrial.
The Eye of Wisdom: The "eye of wisdom" refers to the ability to see beyond the superficial and understand the deeper meaning of things.
The Fools: Those who cannot see beyond the literal meaning of the cows are deemed "fools".

Deeper Meanings and Interpretations

The Nature of Reality: The poem suggests that reality is more complex than it appears on the surface, and there are deeper meanings to be discovered.
The Importance of Wisdom: The "eye of wisdom" is a metaphor for the ability to think critically and see beyond appearances.
The Limitations of Human Perception: The poem implies that human perception is limited and that there is much we do not understand about the universe.

In essence, this rubai is a call for deeper understanding and a challenge to conventional thinking.