Quatrain 51 from Rubaiyat of Omer Khayyam
هر سبزه که بر کنار جویی رستهست
گویی ز لب فرشتهخویی رستهست
پا بر سر سبزه تا به خواری ننهی
کآن 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.
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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.
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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.
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"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.
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"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.
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"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.
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"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.
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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.