Quatrain 18 from Rubaiyat of Omarf Khayyam
این یک دو سه روز نوبت عمر گذشتچون آب به جویبار و چون باد به دشت
هرگز غم دو روز مرا یاد نگشتروزی که نیامدهست و روزی که گذشت
Description:
A Note on this Rubai
The rubai presented here is a classic example of Omar Khayyam's philosophical musings on the fleeting nature of time and life. It's a meditation on the past, present, and future, emphasizing the importance of living in the moment.
English Translation
A more literal translation
These one, two, three days of life's turn have passed,
Like water in a stream and like wind in a field.
Never has the sorrow of two days remained with me,
The day that has not come, and the day that has passed.
A more poetic and interpretive translation
Days slip by, like grains of sand that fall,
Swift as wind, or water's gentle squall.
I've found no solace in regret or fear,
For what's to come, or what has disappeared.
A contemporary and informal translation
Days come and go, like a fleeting dream,
Swift as the wind, or a rushing stream.
Why worry 'bout the past or future tense,
Just live in the moment, make some sense.
"این یک دو سه روز نوبت عمر گذشت": This line emphasizes the rapid passage of time, comparing it to the fleeting nature of water and wind.
"چون آب به جویبار و چون باد به دشت": These similes further emphasize the idea of time as something that flows and cannot be grasped.
"هرگز غم دو روز مرا یاد نگشت": This line suggests that the poet does not dwell on the past or worry about the future.
"روزی که نیامدهست و روزی که گذشت": This line clearly delineates the past and the future, emphasizing the importance of the present moment.
Themes and Interpretations
The transience of time: The poem emphasizes the fleeting nature of human life.
The futility of worry: The poet suggests that worrying about the past or future is pointless.
The importance of living in the moment: The poem encourages the reader to focus on the present moment and enjoy life.
This rubai is a timeless reminder to cherish the present. It encourages us to let go of regrets and worries, and to find joy in the simple things in life.