Quatrain 63 from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Quatrain 63 from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
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افسوس که نامهٔ جوانی طی شد
و آن تازه بهار زندگانی دی شد
آن مرغ طرب که نام او بود شباب
افسوس ندانم که کی آمد کی 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 youth passing, the comparison of youth to spring, and the metaphor of a bird representing youth contribute to the poem's depth and complexity.
English Translation
A more literal translation
Alas, the letter of youth has been completed,
And that fresh spring of life has become past.
That bird of joy whose name was youth,
Alas, I do not know when it came or when it went.
A more poetic and interpretive translation
The book of youth is closed, its pages turned,
The springtime of my life, forever burned.
The bird of joy, whose song was sweet and clear,
Has flown away, and left me filled with fear.
A contemporary and informal translation
My youth is gone, it's sad to say,
Like spring that fades away.
The joy I felt, so wild and free,
Has flown away, like a bird at sea.
"افسوس که نامهٔ جوانی طی شد": This line suggests that the journey of youth has come to an end.
"و آن تازه بهار زندگانی دی شد": This line compares the passing of youth to the end of spring.
"آن مرغ طرب که نام او بود شباب": This line uses the metaphor of a bird to represent youth.
"افسوس ندانم که کی آمد کی شد": This line expresses regret and a sense of wonder at the fleeting nature of youth.
Themes and Interpretations
The transience of youth: The poem emphasizes the fleeting nature of youth and the inevitability of aging.
The passage of time: The rubai explores the theme of time and how it shapes our lives.
The bittersweet nature of life: The poem highlights the bittersweet nature of life, with moments of joy and sorrow.
This rubai is a profound meditation on the human condition. The imagery of the bird of youth and the passing seasons creates a powerful visual representation of the passage of time and the inevitability of aging.
Until we could learn the meaning of the life, youth has gone