Quatrain 73 from Rubaiyat of Rumi
میآمد یار مست و تنها تنها
با نرگس پرخمار رعنا رعنا
جستم که یکی بوسه ستانم ز لبش
فریاد برآورد که یغما یغما
Description:
English Translation of the Quatrain
My beloved came, drunk and utterly alone,
With languid, beautiful narcissus eyes.
I sought to steal a kiss from her lips,
She cried out in alarm, "Robbery! Robbery!"
Analysis of the Quatrains
The Beloved's Arrival: The beloved is depicted as arriving in a state of intoxication, which in Sufi poetry often symbolizes a state of divine ecstasy.
The Seductive Gaze: The description of the beloved's "narcissus eyes" suggests a seductive and alluring gaze.
The Attempted Kiss: The poet's desire to kiss the beloved is a common theme in love poetry, symbolizing a deep longing for union.
The Beloved's Reaction: The beloved's cry of "robbery" is unexpected, perhaps suggesting a fear of intimacy or a deeper meaning that is left for the reader to interpret.
Deeper Meanings
This quatrain, like much of Rumi's poetry, can be interpreted on multiple levels:
Mystical Union: The poet's desire for the beloved can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual quest for union with the divine.
The Paradox of Love: The beloved's reaction highlights the paradoxical nature of love, which can bring both joy and pain.
The Play of Consciousness: The entire scene can be seen as a play of consciousness, where the boundaries between the lover and the beloved become blurred.