Quatrain 67 from Rubaiyat of Saadi Shirazi
با دوست به گرمابه درم خلوت بودوانروی گلینش گل حمام آلود
گفتا دگر این روی کسی دارد دوست؟گفتم به گل آفتاب نتوان اندود
Description:
English Translation:
With a friend, I found solitude in the bathhouse,
His flower-like face was stained with bath-mud.
He asked, "Does anyone likes such a face?"
I replied, "One cannot coat sunlight with mud."
Analysis:
This quatrain from Saadi Shirazi offers a beautiful metaphor for friendship and its unique qualities. Let's break down each line:
Line 1: با دوست به گرمابه درم خلوت بود
"With a friend, I found solitude in the bathhouse,"
The bathhouse, a place of relaxation and intimacy, symbolizes the depth of friendship. The speaker finds solitude, not loneliness, in the company of their friend.
Line 2: وانروی گلینش گل حمام آلود
"Its flower-strewn floor was stained with bathwater."
The image of a flower-strewn floor stained by bathwater is a metaphor for the imperfection of beauty. It suggests that even the most beautiful things can be tainted by the realities of life.
Line 3: گفتا دگر این روی کسی دارد دوست؟
"He asked, 'Does anyone else have such a friend?'"
The friend expresses wonder at the depth of their friendship, questioning whether anyone else could have such a special bond.
Line 4: گفتم به گل آفتاب نتوان اندود
"I replied, 'One cannot coat a flower with sunlight.'"
The speaker's reply is a poetic way of saying that their friendship is unique and cannot be replicated. Just as a flower cannot be artificially given sunlight, their friendship is a natural and beautiful thing that cannot be forced or imitated.
Deeper Meaning:
This quatrain celebrates the beauty and uniqueness of true friendship. It suggests that:
Friendship is a sanctuary: The bathhouse is a symbol of refuge and intimacy, representing the safe space that friendship provides.
Imperfection is a part of beauty: The stained flowers symbolize the idea that even in the most beautiful relationships, there may be challenges or imperfections.
True friendship is rare: The friend's question implies that such deep connections are not easily found.
Friendship is a gift: The final line suggests that true friendship is a gift that cannot be replicated or manufactured.