Quatrain 101 from Rubaiyat of Saadi Shirazi
آن دوست که دیدنش بیاراید چشمبیدیدنش از گریه نیاساید چشم
ما را ز برای دیدنش باید چشمور دوست نبینی به چه کار آید چشم
Description:
English Translation:
Literal:
"That friend whose sight adorns the eyes,
Whose absence leaves me weeping through the night.
For seeing them only, we need eyes,
and if we don't see the friend, what use are eyes?"
Poetic:
"A friend whose gaze, my eyes with joy does light,
Whose absence leaves me weeping through the night.
For them, my eyes were given, it is plain,
Without them, what is sight, or joy, or pain?"
Analysis:
This quatrain by Saadi Shirazi is a poignant exploration of friendship and the role that a beloved friend plays in our lives. It emphasizes the importance of human connection and the profound impact that a friend can have on our emotional well-being.
Key themes:
The Importance of Friendship: The quatrain underscores the central role of friendship in human life. The friend is depicted as the source of joy and comfort.
The Role of the Eyes: The eyes are not merely physical organs but represent the window to the soul and the means through which we experience the world.
The Pain of Separation: The absence of the friend causes great pain, suggesting that the poet's happiness is deeply intertwined with the friend's presence.
The Purpose of Life: The final line poses a profound question: what is the purpose of sight if we cannot see the ones we love? This suggests that the true purpose of life is connection with others.