Quatrain 6 from Rubaiyat of Saadi Shirazi

Analysis of the Quatrain

This quatrain by Saadi Shirazi expresses disappointment and longing in love. Let's break down each line:

Line 1: روزی گفتی: شبی کنم دلشادت

"You once said, 'One night I'll gladden your heart'"
The speaker recalls a past promise of love and happiness made by their beloved.

Line 2: وز بند غمان خود کنم آزادت.

"And free you from the chains of sorrow."
The beloved had promised to liberate the speaker from their sorrows, offering hope and comfort.

Line 3: دیدی که از آن روز چه شب‌ها بگذشت،

"Have you seen how many nights have passed since then?"
The speaker highlights the passage of time, emphasizing the delay in the fulfillment of the promise.

Line 4: وز گفتهٔ خود هیچ نیامد یادت؟

"And how you've forgotten your own promise?"
The speaker expresses their disappointment and hurt, questioning the beloved's sincerity and memory.

Themes Explored:

Unfulfilled promises: The quatrain highlights the pain of unfulfilled promises, especially in love.
Passage of time: The passage of time is used to emphasize the speaker's growing disappointment and longing.
The fragility of hope: The initial hope and joy brought by the beloved's promise have faded with time.

In essence, this quatrain is a poignant expression of heartbreak and the pain of unrequited love. It captures the universal human experience of longing for a love that may never come.