Omar Khayyam Rubaiyat

Omar Khayyam, born in the 11th century, was a Persian polymath who made significant contributions to various fields, including mathematics, astronomy, and poetry. While his mathematical achievements were groundbreaking, he is widely celebrated for his poetic works. Khayyam's verses, collected in the Rubaiyat, explore themes of love, mortality, and the transient nature of life. His poetic style embodies a combination of mysticism, philosophy, and rich imagery. Khayyam's poems often ponder the complexities of existence and invite readers to embrace the present moment while contemplating the mysteries of the universe. His enduring influence and timeless poetry continue to resonate with audiences across the globe.

Explore a curated collection of Omar Khayyam's iconic Persian poems, featuring English transcripts and translations for a captivating journey into the profound beauty and wisdom of his literary legacy.

خیام، اگر ز باده مستی، خوش باش؛
با لاله‌رخی اگر نشستی، خوش باش؛
چون عاقبتِ کار جهان نیستی است،
انگار که نیستی، چو هستی خوش باش

Transcript:

Khayyam, agar ze bade masti, khosh bash
Ba laleh rokhi agar neshasti, khosh bash
Chon aghebate kare jahan nistist
Engar ke nisti, cho hasti khosh bash

English Translation:

O’ Khayyam, if you’re drunk with wine, be happy
If you’re talking with a pretty girl, be happy
Because there is nothing after this world
You will be forgotten as if you have never existed, so as long as you’re here, be happy

Khayyam poem analysis: in this quatrain, Khayyam asks others to enjoy whatever they’re doing because there is no world after we die. Interestingly, Khayyam Poems in English and Farsi are pretty different from the dominant religion in Muslim countries.

امروز تو را دسترس فردا نیست
و اندیشهٔ فردات به جز سودا نیست
ضایع مکن این دم اَر دلت بیدار است
کاین باقیِ عمر را بقا پیدا نیست

Transcript:

Emruz to ra dastrase farad nist
Va andisheye fardat be joz soda nist
Zayeh makon in dam ar delat bidar ast
Ke in baghiye omr ra bagha peyda nist

English Translation:

Today, you can’t know about tomorrow
The thoughts about tomorrow are nothing but dreams
Don’t kill your heart, if it still is alive
Cause you can’t say how much you will be alive

تا کی غمِ آن خورم که دارم یا نه
وین عمر به خوشدلی گذارم یا نه
پر کن قدح باده، که معلومم نیست
کاین دم که فرو برم بر آرم یا نه

Transcript:

Ta key ghame an khoram ke daram ya na
Vin omr be khoshdeli gozaram ya na
Por kon bade ke ma’lomam nist
Kin dam ke foro baram bar aram ya na

English Translation:

Till when shall I worry whether I have enough to eat or not
Whether I will have a happy life or not?! Till when?
O’ cupbearer, fill up my cup
Because I don’t know till when I will be alive

ای دل چو زمانه می‌کند غمناکت
ناگه برود ز تن روان پاکت
بر سبزه نشین و خوش بزی روزی چند
زان پیش که سبزه بردمد از خاکت

Transcript:

Ey del cho zamane mikonad ghamnakat
Nagah beravad ze tan ravane pakat
Bar sabze neshin O khosh bezi rozi chand
Zan pish ke sabze bardamad az khakat

English Translation:

Oh my heart, when life breaks you
Know that someday everything will end
So, go to nature and enjoy life for some moments
Before you find grass growing on your corpse!

افسوس که نامه 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

Transcript:

Afsos ke name javani tey shod
Va an taze bahar zendegani dey shod
An morghe tarab ke name ou bod Shabab
Afsos nadanam ke key amad key shod

English Translation:

Sadly, young ages have passed
Those new spring days turned to winter
Youth that was like a singing bird
Sadly, I don’t know when it came or even passed

ای بس که نباشیم و جهان خواهد بود
نی نام ز ما و نی‌ نشان خواهد بود
زین پیش نبودیم و نبد هیچ خلل
زین پس چو نباشیم همان خواهد بود

Transcript:

Ey bas ke nabashim O jahan khahad bod
Ni nam ze ma O ni neshan khahad bud
Zin pish nabudim O nabud hich khelal
Zin pas cho nabashim haman khahad bud

English Translation:

Life passes even when you and I die
A day will arrive when no one even knows our names
There was no problem in the passing of nights and days when we weren’t born
Similarly, after our death, the world will be the same

این قافلهٔ عمر عجب می‌گذرد
دریاب دمی که با طرب می‌گذرد
ساقی غم فردای حریفان چه خوری
پیش آر پیاله را که شب می‌گذرد

Transcript:

In ghafeleye omr ajab migozarad
Daryab dami ke ba tarab migozarad
Saghi ghame fardaye harifan che khori
Pish ar piyaleh ra ke shab migozarad

English Translation:

Days of our lives pass quickly
Appreciate happy moments
O’ cupbearer, why sad about tomorrow!
Pour wine that the night passes

می خوردن و شاد بودن آئین من است
فارغ بودن ز کفر و دین دین من است

Transcript:

Mey khordan O shad bodan ayine man ast
Fareq bodan ze kofr O din dine man ast

English Translation:

Drinking wine and happiness are my religion
Being free of infidelity and religion is my religion

تا چند زنم به روی دریاها خشت
بیزار شدم ز بت‌پرستان کنشت
خیام ، که گفت دوزخی خواهد بود
که رفت به دوزخ و که آمد ز بهشت

Transcript:

Ta chand zanam be roye daryaha khesht
Bizar shodam ze botparastane kenesht
Khayyam, keg oft dozakhi khahad bud?
Ke raft be dozakh O kea mad ze behesht?!

English Translation:

Till when should I keep repeating useless?!
I am tired of those empty-headed idol worshippers!
Khayyam, who said there would be hell?
Who saw or returned from hell and heaven?

گویند مرا که دوزخی باشد مست
قولیست خلاف دل در آن نتوان بست
گر عاشق و میخواره بدوزخ باشند
فردا بینی بهشت همچون کف دست

Transcript:

Goyand ma ra ke dozakhi bashad mast
Gholist khalafe del dar an natavan bast
Gar asheq O meykhare be dozakh bashand
Farad bini behesht hamchon kafe dast

English Translation:

Religious men say those who drink wine would go to hell
This is a false belief!
Even if wine drinkers go to hell
They will make hell a heaven

Analysis: Khayyam means that wine drinkers know how to be happy or enjoy the moment; that’s why even if they go to hell, they will make hell a great place like heaven.

Omar Khayyam's view of the world reflects a deep contemplation of life's transient nature and the inherent uncertainties that surround human existence. He emphasizes the fleeting nature of time and encourages individuals to embrace the present moment fully. Khayyam's philosophy celebrates the enjoyment of life's simple pleasures, such as love, wine, and companionship, in the face of the inevitability of mortality. His poetic verses often explore themes of existentialism, the search for meaning, and the mysteries of the universe. Khayyam's worldview invites readers to reflect upon the impermanence of life and find solace in embracing the beauty and joy that can be found amidst life's inherent uncertainties.