Quatrain 16 from Rubaiyat of Rumi
ای اشک روان بگو دلافزای مراآن باغ و بهار و آن تماشای مرا
چون یاد کنی شبی تو شبهای مرااندیشه مکن بیادبیهای مرا
Description:
English Translation of the Quatrain
O flowing tear, tell my heart's delight,
Of that garden, that spring, and that sight.
When you recall my nights, those nights of mine,
Don't think of my rudeness, my ill-timed line.
Analysis of the Quatrain
The Tear as a Messenger: The poet personifies a tear and asks it to carry a message to his beloved. This is a common poetic device used to express deep emotions.
The Garden, Spring, and Sight: These images evoke a sense of beauty, joy, and paradise, often used in Persian poetry to symbolize spiritual enlightenment or the beloved.
Nights and Rudeness: The poet seems to be reflecting on past encounters with his beloved, possibly moments where he may have said or done something he regrets.
Forgiveness: The final line suggests a plea for forgiveness, asking the beloved not to dwell on any past mistakes or "rudeness".
Deeper Meanings
It's important to note that Rumi's poetry often has multiple layers of meaning. This quatrain could be interpreted as:
A lover's plea: The poet is asking his beloved for forgiveness and understanding.
A spiritual yearning: The "garden" and "spring" could symbolize a spiritual state or the divine, and the "tear" could represent the soul's longing for union with the divine.
A reflection on mortality: The fleeting nature of life and the transience of earthly pleasures are common themes in Rumi's poetry. The "tear" could symbolize the impermanence of human existence.