Quatrain 22 from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
ترکیب پیالهای که در هم پیوست
بشکستن آن روا نمیدارد مست
چندین سر و پای نازنین از سر دست
از 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.
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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.
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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.
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"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.
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"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.
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"چندین سر و پای نازنین از سر دست": This line refers to the many people who have experienced heartbreak.
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"از مهر که پیوست و به کین که شکست": This line states that love brings people together, while hate tears them apart.
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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.