Quatrain 39 from Rubaiyat of Saadi Shirazi

Analysis:

This quatrain by Saadi Shirazi expresses a sense of resignation and helplessness in the face of fate. The speaker is grappling with a situation that seems beyond their control.

Line 1: چون بخت به تدبیر نکو نتوان کرد

"Since fortune cannot be improved by wise planning,"
The speaker acknowledges that their fate is determined by forces beyond their control. No matter how wisely they plan, they cannot change their fortune.

Line 2: بیفایده سعی و گفت و گو نتوان کرد

"And effort and discourse are futile,"
The speaker further emphasizes their powerlessness by stating that their efforts and attempts to change the situation are fruitless.

Line 3: گفتم بروم صبر کنم یک چندی

"I said, 'I will go and wait a while,'"
In the face of this helplessness, the speaker decides to be patient. They believe that time might bring about a change.

Line 4: هم صبر برو که صبر ازو نتوان کرد

"But even patience leaves me, for patience cannot be extracted from it."
Ironically, even patience, which the speaker sought as a refuge, seems to abandon them. This suggests a deep-seated despair and a sense of being trapped in a hopeless situation.

Themes explored in the quatrain:

Fate and free will: The quatrain explores the tension between fate and free will. The speaker seems to believe that their destiny is predetermined and that their efforts to change it are futile.
The limitations of human effort: The speaker's realization of the limitations of human effort in the face of fate is a common theme in Persian poetry.
The nature of patience: The quatrain also explores the nature of patience and how it can be a difficult virtue to maintain.

This quatrain is a poignant expression of human vulnerability and the challenges of accepting the limitations of our existence. The speaker's sense of resignation and helplessness is a powerful reminder of the human condition.