Quatrain 51 from Rubaiyat of Omer Khayyam
هر سبزه که بر کنار جویی رستهستگویی ز لب فرشتهخویی رستهست
پا بر سر سبزه تا به خواری ننهیکآن سبزه ز خاک لالهرویی رستهست
Description:
A Beautiful Image of Transience and Beauty
This rubai by Omar Khayyam paints a vivid picture of nature and the interconnectedness of all things. The imagery of grass growing near a stream and its connection to a beautiful face creates a profound meditation on life, beauty, and the impermanence of all things.
English Translation
A more literal translation
Every blade of grass that has grown beside a stream
Seems to have grown from the lips of a heavenly being,
Do not tread upon the grass in contempt,
For that grass has grown from the soil of a beautiful face.
A more poetic and interpretive translation
Each blade of grass by waters bright,
Seems kissed by angels, pure and light.
Tread softly, lest you crush with scorn,
A face of beauty, long since worn.
A contemporary and informal translation
Every blade of grass, so green and sweet,
Seems like a gift from heaven, so complete.
Don’t step on it, it’s not right,
For it might have been a beauty’s sight.
"هر سبزه که بر کنار جویی رستهست": The image of grass growing near a stream is a common motif in Persian poetry, often symbolizing life, growth, and renewal.
"گویی ز لب فرشتهخویی رستهست": This line suggests that the grass is so beautiful and delicate that it seems to have grown from the lips of an angel.
"پا بر سر سبزه تا به خواری ننهی": The poet warns against treating the grass with disrespect, as it is seen as a symbol of beauty and life.
"کآن سبزه ز خاک لالهرویی رستهست": This line implies that the grass is connected to a higher form of beauty, perhaps symbolizing the interconnectedness of all things.
Themes and Interpretations
The beauty of nature: The rubai celebrates the beauty and wonder of the natural world.
The interconnectedness of all things: The image of grass growing from the soil of a beautiful face suggests that all things are interconnected and part of a larger whole.
Respect for all life: The poet urges readers to treat all living things with respect and reverence.
This rubai is a beautiful reminder of the interconnectedness of all living things and the importance of treating the natural world with respect. The image of grass growing from the soil of a beautiful face is a powerful metaphor for the transience of beauty and the cyclical nature of life.