Quatrain 85 from Rubaiyat of Saadi Shirazi
رویی که نخواستم که بیند همه کسالا شب و روز پیش من باشد و بس
پیوست به دیگران و از من ببریدیارب تو به فریاد من مسکین رس
Description:
English Translation:
A face I desired no one else to see,
But only me, night and day.
It has joined others and been taken from me.
O Lord, please come to the aid of your poor servant.
Analysis:
This quatrain by Saadi Shirazi expresses deep sorrow and longing for a lost love. Let's break down each line:
Line 1: رویی که نخواستم که بیند همه کس
"A face I desired no one else to see,"
The speaker expresses a possessive desire for the beloved's face, wanting it to be exclusively theirs.
Line 2: الا شب و روز پیش من باشد و بس
"But only me, night and day."
This line reinforces the speaker's desire for constant companionship with their beloved.
Line 3: پیوست به دیگران و از من ببرید
"It has joined others and been taken from me."
The speaker laments the loss of their beloved, who has now become involved with others.
Line 4: یارب تو به فریاد من مسکین رس
"O Lord, please come to the aid of your poor servant."
The speaker appeals to God for help, acknowledging their own helplessness in the face of this loss.
Deeper Meaning:
This quatrain is a poignant expression of heartbreak and the pain of unrequited love. The speaker is grappling with the loss of a beloved who has moved on, leaving them feeling abandoned and alone. The theme of possessiveness in love is evident, as the speaker desires the beloved's exclusive attention. However, the final line reveals a sense of humility and a recognition of their own powerlessness. It is a cry for divine intervention in a situation that feels beyond their control.
Key themes:
Loss and separation: The central theme is the pain of losing a beloved.
Possessiveness: The speaker's desire to possess the beloved's attention is evident.
Helplessness: The speaker feels powerless to change the situation.
Faith: The speaker turns to God for solace and help.