Quatrain 55 from Rubaiyat of Saadi Shirazi

Analysis:

This quatrain by Saadi Shirazi is a beautiful exploration of the cyclical nature of life, love, and seasons. Let's break down the lines:

Line 1: وقت گل و روز شادمانی آمد

"The time of flowers and joy has arrived,"
This line evokes images of spring, a time of renewal and happiness. It suggests a period of warmth, beauty, and prosperity.

Line 2: آن شد که به سرما نتوانی آمد

"A time when one cannot endure the cold. "
This line implies that during this time of joy and warmth, one cannot tolerate the coldness or indifference of others. It suggests a heightened sensitivity to emotional warmth.

Line 3: رفت آنکه دلت به مهر ما گرم نبود

"Gone is the one whose heart was not warmed by our love,"
Here, the poet suggests that someone who was indifferent or cold-hearted has left. This could be a metaphorical or literal departure.

Line 4: سرما شد و وقت مهربانی آمد

"The cold has come, and the time of kindness."
This line seems contradictory at first. It suggests that even in the cold, there is a time for kindness. It could imply that hardship can bring out the best in people or that even in difficult times, there is hope for warmth and compassion.

Deeper Meaning:

This quatrain suggests that:

Life is cyclical: Seasons change, as do our emotions and relationships.
Love and warmth are essential: The speaker values emotional warmth and connection.
Hardship can bring out the best in people: The idea that "the time of kindness" comes during a cold period suggests that adversity can foster compassion.

This quatrain is a reflection on the human condition and the complexities of relationships. It suggests that while life is full of ups and downs, the human capacity for love and kindness endures. The image of the changing seasons is used as a metaphor for the ebb and flow of emotions and relationships.