Robaei is a Persian poetic form that consists of a quatrain, or four lines, with a rhyme scheme of either AABA or AAAA. The word ruba’i means “four” in Arabic, and the plural form of ruba’i is rubaiyat, which is often used to refer to a collection of quatrains.
Some famous examples of rubaiyat are the ones attributed to Omar Khayyam, a 12th-century Persian poet, mathematician, and astronomer. His quatrains were translated into English by Edward FitzGerald in the 19th century, and became very popular and influential in Western literature
Create New Robaeiمن دوش قضا یار و قدر پشتم بود
نارنج زنخدان تو در مشتم بود
دیدم که همی گزم لب شیرینش
بیدار چو گشتم سر انگشتم بود
Description:
English Translation:
Yesterday, fate was my friend and destiny my support,
The bitterness of your smile was clasped in my grasp.
I saw how your sweet lips moved and stirred,
But when I awoke, it was only my finger I'd stirred.
با دوست به گرمابه درم خلوت بود
وانروی گلینش گل حمام آلود
گفتا دگر این روی کسی دارد دوست؟
گفتم به گل آفتاب نتوان اندود
Description:
English Translation:
With a friend, I found solitude in the bathhouse,
His flower-like face was stained with bath-mud.
He asked, "Does anyone likes such a face?"
I replied, "One cannot coat sunlight with mud."
هر چند که عیبم از قفا میگویند
دشنام و دروغ و ناسزا میگویند
نتوان به حدیث دشمن از دوست برید
دانی چه؟ رها کنیم تا میگویند
Description:
Here's a possible English translation of the quatrain:
Though they speak ill of me behind my back,
Slander, lies, and insults they attack.
One cannot sever the tale of foe from friend,
You know what? Let them say, and we'll transcend.
مردان نه بهشت و رنگ و بو میخواهند
یا موی خوش و روی نکو میخواهند
یاری دارند مثل و مانندش نیست
در دنیی و آخرت هم او میخواهند
Description:
Here's a possible English translation of the quatrain:
Men don't desire paradise, scent, or hue,
Nor beautiful hair or a lovely view.
They seek a companion, one of a kind,
In this world and the next, this friend they find.
آن درد ندارم که طبیبان دانند
دردیست محبت که حبیبان دانند
ما را غم روی آشنایی کشتست
این حال نباید که غریبان دانند
Description:
English Translation:
I don’t have a pain that physicians know,
It’s a pain of love that only lovers understand.
The sorrow of a familiar face has killed us,
This state should not be known to strangers.
مجنون اگر احتمال لیلی نکند
شاید که به صدق عشق دعوی نکند
در مذهب عشق هر که جانی دارد
روی دل ازو به هر که دنیی نکند
Description:
English Translation:
If Majnun hadn't hoped for Layla,
Perhaps he wouldn't have claimed sincere love.
In the religion of love, whoever is truly devoted
Doesn't turn their heart away from anyone for worldly reasons.
کس عیب نظر باختن ما نکند
زیرا که نظر داعی تنها نکند
بیکار بهیمهای و کژطبع کسی
کو فرق میان زشت و زیبا نکند
Description:
English Translation:
No one can fault us for our gazing habit,
For it is not only our desire that leads us astray.
There is an idle beast, a person of crooked nature,
Who does not distinguish between the ugly and the beautiful.
آن کودک لشکری که لشکر شکند
دایم دل ما چو قلب کافر شکند
محبوب که تازیانه در سر شکند
به زانکه ببیند و عنان برشکند
Description:
English Translation:
That child of war who shatters armies
Continually shatters our hearts like a non-believer's.
The beloved, who wields a whip in his head,
Is better than one who sees and yet reins in his passion.
آنان که پریروی و شکر گفتارند
حیفست که روی خوب پنهان دارند
فیالجمله نقاب نیز بیفایده نیست
تا زشت بپوشند و نکو بگذارند
Description:
English Translation:
Those who are graceful and sweet-tongued
It's a pity they hide their beautiful faces.
Nevertheless, a veil is not entirely useless,
So that they may cover the ugly and reveal the beautiful.
کس با تو عدو محاربت نتواند
زیرا که گرفتار کمندت ماند
نه دل دهدش که با تو شمشیر زند
نه صبر که از تو روی برگرداند
Description:
English Translation:
No enemy can wage war with you,
Because they will become entangled in your snare.
Neither will their heart allow them to fight you with a sword,
Nor will their patience allow them to turn their face away from you.
گویند مرو در پی آن سرو بلند
انگشتنمای خلق بودن تا چند؟
بیفایده پندم مده ای دانشمند
من چون نروم؟ که میبرندم به کمند
Description:
English Translation:
They say, "Don't pursue that tall cypress,"
How long can one be the object of people's pointing fingers?
Don't give me useless advice, oh wise one,
How can I not go? For it drags me away with a noose.
در خرقهٔ توبه آمدم روزی چند
چشمم به دهان واعظ و گوش به پند
ناگاه بدیدم آن سهی سرو بلند
وز یاد برفتم سخن دانشمند
Description:
English Translation:
For a few days, I came in the garb of repentance,
My eyes fixed on the preacher's mouth, and my ears on his advice.
Suddenly, I saw that slender cypress of beauty,
And forgot the words of the wise man.