Mr. Omar Khayyam, a Persian poet, mathematician, and astronomer died in Neyshābūr on December 4, 1131. It was like this day, but 891 years ago.
You may be familiar with the English writer Edward FitzGerald’s translation of his Robāʿīyāt [or “Quatrains”] in a now classical book, which is entitled the “Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám” (1859).
The book cited above has been translated into several languages. Bambi is lucky to have a German translation of it, thanks to a precious gift from an aunt. To honour the memory and work of Mr. Oma Khayyam, she found an English song based on Khayyam’s “Rubaiyat“.
Words cannot die, especially if we honour them. Long live words. Long live poetry.
Thanks for remembering Omar 900 years after his death. He wrote one of my favourite poems of all time.
Ah Love! could thou and I with Fate conspire
To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire,
Would not we shatter it to bits — and then
Re-mould it nearer to the Heart’s Desire!
Thank you Fred for your kind comment and for sharing this beautiful poem! Bambi read your words in English, but in her mind, she also thought of them in Arabic. She is almost positive she learned this poem in its translated Arabic version in her Arabic literature course in high school. Wow.
I think it’s just a few lines from the Rubáiyát. The whole poem must be spectacular.