Quatrain 22 from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
ترکیب پیالهای که در هم پیوستبشکستن آن روا نمیدارد مست
چندین سر و پای نازنین از سر دستاز مهر که پیوست و به کین که شکست
Description:
A Note on this Rubai
This rubai is a beautiful and evocative meditation on the fragility of human relationships and the enduring power of love. It uses the metaphor of a broken cup to convey a deep emotional truth.
English Translation
A more literal translation
The composition of a cup that has been joined together,
It is not permissible for the drunkard to break.
Many a lovely head and foot, from head to foot,
Have been joined by love and broken by hate.
A more poetic and interpretive translation
A fragile cup, its pieces joined as one,
A drunkard's hand should leave it well alone.
Countless hearts have broken, souls have torn,
By love united, then by hatred worn.
A contemporary and informal translation
A broken cup, mended, fragile and sweet,
Don't shatter it, it's not complete.
So many hearts, once joined as one,
Torn apart by hate, when love was done.
"ترکیب پیالهای که در هم پیوست": This line refers to a cup that has been broken and then repaired. It symbolizes a relationship that has been mended.
"بشکستن آن روا نمیدارد مست": This line suggests that the mended cup is fragile and should be treated with care. It's a metaphor for the delicate nature of relationships.
"چندین سر و پای نازنین از سر دست": This line refers to the many people who have experienced heartbreak.
"از مهر که پیوست و به کین که شکست": This line states that love brings people together, while hate tears them apart.
Themes and Interpretations
The fragility of relationships: The poem emphasizes the delicate nature of human connections.
The power of love: Love is depicted as a powerful force that can bring people together.
The destructiveness of hate: Hate is portrayed as a force that can break even the strongest bonds.
This rubai is a timeless reminder of the importance of cherishing our relationships and treating them with care. It suggests that while love can heal, hate can cause irreparable damage.