Quatrain 62 from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Quatrain 62 from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
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افسوس که سرمایه ز کف بیرون شد
وز دست اجل بسی جگرها خون شد
کس نآمد از آن جهان که پرسم از وی
کاحوال مسافران دنیا چون شد
Description:
A Note About This Quatrain
This particular rubai of Omar Khayyam is rich in philosophical and existential undertones, making a direct, literal translation quite challenging. The imagery of losing one's wealth, the concept of death, and the question about the afterlife contribute to the poem's depth and complexity.
English Translation
A more literal translation
Alas, that wealth has slipped from our grasp,
And many hearts have been broken by the hand of death.
No one has returned from that world to ask,
What has become of the travelers of this world.
A more poetic and interpretive translation
Our worldly wealth, so fleeting and so frail,
Death's icy hand, our spirits it does assail.
None return to tell us what lies beyond,
The mysteries of life, forever unsolved.
A contemporary and informal translation
We lose our stuff, it's such a pain,
And death takes so much, it's insane.
No one comes back to tell us the truth,
About life and death, and what's coming soon.
"افسوس که سرمایه ز کف بیرون شد": This line expresses regret over the loss of worldly possessions.
"وز دست اجل بسی جگرها خون شد": This line refers to the pain and suffering caused by death.
"کس نآمد از آن جهان که پرسم از وی": This line highlights the mystery of the afterlife and the lack of knowledge about what happens after death.
"کاحوال مسافران دنیا چون شد": This line questions the fate of those who have passed away.
Themes and Interpretations
The transience of life: The poem emphasizes the impermanence of worldly possessions and the inevitability of death.
The mystery of the afterlife: The rubai expresses curiosity about what happens after death and the lack of definitive answers.
The human condition: The poem explores themes of loss, suffering, and the search for meaning in life.
This rubai is a profound meditation on the human condition. The imagery of lost wealth and the question about the afterlife create a powerful visual representation of the mysteries of existence.