Quatrain 36 from Rubaiyat of Saadi Shirazi

Analysis:

This quatrain by Saadi Shirazi expresses the deep sorrow and helplessness one feels when consumed by love. The speaker is unable to find solace or relief from their emotional pain.

Line 1: کس نیست که غم از دل ما داند برد

"There's no one who can take the sorrow from my heart,"
The speaker is asserting that their sorrow is so profound that no one can alleviate it.

Line 2: یا چارهٔ کار عشق بتواند برد

"Or find a remedy for the plight of love."
The speaker is acknowledging that their suffering is a result of love, and they are implying that love itself is a difficult and often painful condition.

Line 3: گفتم که به شوخی ببرد دست از ما

"I said, 'Let her jokingly remove her hand from me,'"
Here, the speaker expresses a wish for a temporary respite from their suffering. They hope that the beloved might, even as a jest, distance themselves for a moment.

Line 4: زین دست که او پیاده می‌داند برد

"But she knows how to take my heart, even when walking away."
The final line reveals the speaker's realization that even when the beloved seems distant or disinterested, they still hold immense power over the speaker's heart. The beloved can "take" the speaker's heart simply by walking away, highlighting the depth of their influence.

Themes explored in the quatrain:

The pain of unrequited love: The speaker's inability to find relief from their sorrow suggests that they are experiencing unrequited love.
The power of love: Despite the pain it causes, the speaker acknowledges the immense power of love over their life.
The helplessness of the lover: The speaker feels trapped and powerless in the face of their emotions.

This quatrain is a poignant expression of the anguish and helplessness that often accompanies love. Saadi skillfully conveys the speaker's deep emotional turmoil and their realization of the overwhelming power of love.