Quatrain 26 from Rubaiyat of Rumi
ای شب ، شادی همیشه بادی شاداعمرت به درازیِ قیامت بادا
در یاد من آتشی است از صورت دوستای غصه اگر تو زهره داری یادا
Description:
English Translation of the Quatrain
O night, may you always bring joy and cheer,
May your life be as long as the Day of Judgment.
Within my memory is a fire in the form of my beloved,
O sorrow, if you have courage, remember this.
Analysis of the Quatrains
The Night as a Companion: The night is personified and addressed, suggesting it is a source of comfort and companionship.
A Long Life for the Night: The wish for the night to have a life as long as the Day of Judgment is a poetic exaggeration, emphasizing the desire for perpetual joy and companionship.
The Fire of Love: The image of a fire within the speaker's memory symbolizes the intensity of their love for the beloved.
A Challenge to Sorrow: The final line directly addresses sorrow, challenging it to remember the intensity of the speaker's love.
Deeper Meanings
This quatrain, like much of Rumi's poetry, can be interpreted on multiple levels:
A Lover's Desire: The speaker expresses a deep longing for the beloved, and wishes for their love to be eternal.
The Power of Memory: The memory of the beloved is a source of great comfort and strength, even in the face of sorrow.
The Triumph of Love Over Sorrow: The final line suggests that the love the speaker feels is so powerful that it can overcome even the deepest sorrow.