Quatrain 71 from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
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تا چند اسیر رنگ و بو خواهی شدچند از پی هر زشت و نکو خواهی شد
گر چشمهٔ زمزمی و گر آب حیاتآخر به دل خاک فروخواهی 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 being a prisoner to colors and scents, the pursuit of beauty and ugliness, and the ultimate fate of returning to dust contribute to the poem's depth and complexity.
English Translation
A more literal translation
How long will you be a prisoner of color and scent?
How long will you chase after every ugliness and beauty?
Whether you are the spring of Zamzam or the water of life,
In the end, you will sink into the heart of the earth.
A more poetic and interpretive translation
Ensnared by hues and fragrant air you’ll stay,
Chasing beauty, ugliness each day.
Though Zamzam’s spring you drink, or life’s pure source,
Earth’s heart will claim you, as a matter of course.
A contemporary and informal translation
Why get caught up in looks and smells?
Chasing beauty, you’ll lose yourself.
Even if you’re super healthy and alive,
You’ll end up six feet under, that’s the drive.
"تا چند اسیر رنگ و بو خواهی شد": This line suggests that we are often trapped by our senses and desires.
"چند از پی هر زشت و نکو خواهی شد": This line highlights the human tendency to seek pleasure and avoid pain.
"گر چشمهٔ زمزمی و گر آب حیات": This line refers to the mythical spring of Zamzam, symbolizing life and purity.
"آخر به دل خاک فروخواهی شد": This line emphasizes the ultimate fate of all living beings, returning to dust.
Themes and Interpretations
The impermanence of life: The poem highlights the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death.
The futility of worldly pursuits: The rubai suggests that the pursuit of worldly pleasures is ultimately meaningless.
The unity of all things: The poem implies that all beings, regardless of their differences, share a common fate.
This rubai is a profound meditation on the human condition. The imagery of being trapped by the senses and the ultimate fate of returning to dust create a powerful visual representation of the impermanence of life.