Quatrain 69 from Rubaiyat of Saadi Shirazi
داد طرب از عمر بده تا برودتا ماه برآید و ثریا برود
ور خواب گران شود بخسبیم به صبحچندانکه نماز چاشت از ما برود
Description:
English Translation:
Give me the joy of life while it lasts,
Until the moon rises and the Pleiades pass.
And if a heavy sleep should overtake us till morning,
Let us sleep until the morning prayer is past.
Analysis:
This quatrain by Saadi Shirazi is a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of enjoying the present moment. Let's break down each line:
Line 1: داد طرب از عمر بده تا برود
"Give me the joy of life while it lasts,"
The speaker is asking for the pleasures and joys of life while they are still available. They are urging to seize the moment and enjoy life to the fullest.
Line 2: تا ماه برآید و ثریا برود
"Until the moon rises and the Pleiades pass."
This line is a poetic way of saying "until the end of time." The moon and the Pleiades are celestial bodies, and their movement symbolizes the passage of time. The speaker is expressing a desire to enjoy life until its natural end.
Line 3: ور خواب گران شود بخسبیم به صبح
"And if a heavy sleep should overtake us till morning,"
The speaker contemplates the possibility of deep sleep, suggesting a peaceful and restful state.
Line 4: چندانکه نماز چاشت از ما برود
"Let us sleep until the morning prayer is past."
This line indicates a desire to sleep deeply and soundly, even to the point of missing the early morning prayer. This suggests a carefree and relaxed attitude towards life.
This quatrain explores themes of life, death, and the importance of enjoying the present moment. It suggests that:
Life is short: The references to time passing and the inevitability of death emphasize the brevity of human existence.
We should embrace pleasure: The speaker encourages the reader to seek out joy and pleasure while they can.
It's okay to indulge in relaxation: The idea of sleeping in until the morning prayer suggests that it's important to take time for rest and rejuvenation.