Omar Khayyam

A tribute to Khayyam and the FitzGerald translations of the Rubaiyat--One of my father's favorite poems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The Blowing Rose”, The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam--illustration by Edmund Dulac

http://www.artsycraftsy.com/dulac/dulac_blowingrose.jpg

 

Quatrain XV Look to the blowing Rose about us--“Lo,

Laughing,” she says, “into the world I blow,

At once the silken tassel of my Purse

Tear, and its Treasure on the Garden throw.”      --Rubaiyat, FitzGerald Fifth Edition

 

 

Dear Reader,

 

This poem is a tribute both to Omar Khayyam and the FitzGerald translations of the Rubaiyat. Many of the images, language, and ideas are direct reflections of the Rubaiyat. This is entirely intentional and meant to pay homage to the piece.

Omar Khayyam

Rejoice, my friend, and raise your cup and sing.

Your worldly cares ne’er to the tavern bring.

   Leave fruitless sorrows waiting at the door.

Sad winter garments shed…and embrace spring!

 

Take heed, you, then to wisdom absolute:

Once kissed by death, all worldly cares are moot!

   And once into the cold grave you descend,

You’ll ne’er again taste of the grape’s sweet fruit.

 

So listen to the wise old Persian sage,

Who was the finest mind of his whole age,

   And with Khayyam, we’ll ruby beverage sip,

And spring the lock of sad life’s sorrows’ cage.

 

But what of knowledge and worldly pursuits?

Of these, in life, Khayyam, he was not mute!

   New calendar, celestial maps he made,

For algebraic problems found the root.

 

To seek true knowledge in your youth is fine,

And with the muse of art and science dine,

   But yet, once life is at its bitter end,

Your song is stopped--no matter what the time.

 

Remember, then, the warnings of our sage,

Who penned his wisdom on poetic page:

   “Despite great knowledge, I was ne’er as deep

As in wine"--ruthless sorrow to assuage.

 

So heed, you, then that you’ll not spend in haste

All of your worldly days and life make waste.

   So make, you, space your lifetime to enjoy,

Before your life from this world is erased.

 

But what then of the Paradise to come,

If we to wanton ways and Sin succumb?

   Ah, take the cash in hand--enjoy your life!

If soul lives on then why the dead so mum?

 

And if base Man falls easily to Sin,

This is our nature and the Lord’s chagrin.

   Who made us what we are, devised the Snake?

Corrupting us from outside and within!

 

And tell me is it justice to condemn

In fire, forever, the weak souls of Men?

   No lowly drunkard singing with his friends

Would cast Man down--he’d pick him up again!

 

So join me with Khayyam and we shall sing.

And winter sorrows in the fire fling.

   And quaff wine’s ruby beverage from our cups,

And bolt the door ‘gainst life’s sad somber things!

 

And in good time our end of days shall pass,

And we descend, are laid beneath the grass,

   And as we follow Khayyam to the grave,

In memory turn down your empty glass.

 

 

 

 

©2008, Richard Puetter

All rights Reserved

 

 

 

For more info see the Wikipedia article on Khayyam: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Khayyam

 

The Rubaiyat can be found on the web at the following locations:

 

   2nd Edition:     http://www.kellscraft.com/rubaiyatedition2.html

   5th Edition:     http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Rubaiyat_of_Omar_Khayyam/Fifth_Edition

Author's Note

To a poet, philosopher, and scientist that was so influential in my early life, and to FitzGerald, the western poet that really introduced Khayyam's potery to the world.

Reviews

[C.T. Bailey]

Rick, you are amazing. Even if I could never agree with his philosophies, I still find hope and happiness in your writing and his. Is it wrong for me to envy you talent...I should hope not. This piece is magnificent and more. Its appeal is its inspiration and it wisdom is found in the rebuke. Truly, just by the evaluation and study of this work, I am a better poet. I am proud to have read it. If I could rate it....100.
Todd

[Robert Lindsay]

It's an excellent warm and wise poem, written in a classic style. Enjoyed it a lot.

[PatrickBairamian]

A great work. Goodluck in the contest =)

[zainul]

Hi Rick,let me give my tributes to you at first.
The tributes you deserve for the courage and talent for being able to write
homage for the great icons like Khayyam and FitzGerald.
I read translated Rubaiyat-e- Omar Khayyam done by Kazi Nazrul Islam and FitzGerald.But the numbers of Rubaiyat were not too many.I am very unfortunate that I could not read them in original Persian language.
Today,I found Omar Khayyam through your amazing work.
I have enjoyed a lot by reading your wonderful piece and the fabulous reviews.
Hope to enjoy more of your works.

[David Lewis Paget]

A fine tribute to one of the most glorious of poems, the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayam. As you say, it's thanks to Fitzgerald that we westerners may dip into this extravaganza of eastern eroticism and hedonism.

[Marie]

The flying bird of time
Which has not long
Flings cheerfully and carelessly
Its song...

As do poets.

You have truly captured the spirit of Omar Khayyam.

[BLBrown]

So so so so wonderful. I read it aloud twice. You have so much talent and I can learn so much from you!

This poem flows like that "ruby beverage," o'er my entire body with much needed leverage!

I love the structure of this. You wrote:

So heed, you, then that you’ll not spend in haste
All of your worldly days and life make waste.
So make, you, space your lifetime to enjoy,
Before your life from this world is erased.

So perfectly expressed...to live in the now...to smell the rose.

Right brain...check.

Thanks Rick for showing us what a true piece of art looks and sounds like!

Barbara

[Rick Puetter]

Dear Readers,

It is with regret that I must inform you that Barbara has finally died, falling prey to the leukemia that has preyed on her for so many years. My sorrow, of course, is beyond redress, but I take some comfort in the fact that she found some inspiration in this piece. Her comments are more valuable to me now, than ever. Be at peace, Sweet Lady. I deeply feel the loss of your spirit from this world.

Rick

[Tony Williams]

Amazing. Never have I seen something like this in English (done well). Very well done adapting the Rubaiyat style.

[Clarisse Nanoit]

WOW. I'm taking entirely too long to judge this contest. I'm reviewing again, because I plan on actually deciding this weekind. "No lowly drunkard singing with his friends/ Would cast Man down--he’d pick him up again!" That is without a doubt my couple of lines! I love beat of this piece and the slow-ish rhythm. Very cool. =)
KH

[ice]

Excellent, story line told in lyrics..this must be sung.
For a poem as good as this, the normal spoken word does not suffice.