Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Muslim / Sufi 11th Century	About Omar Khayyam Timeline (11th Century)
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English version by Edward FitzGerald Original Language Persian/Farsi	[2] Dreaming when Dawn's Left Hand was in the Sky
Commentary by Ivan M. Granger Themes   Dawn   Sky   Sound   Wine     Recommended Books The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, by Omar Khayyam / Translated by Edward FitzGerald The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, by Omar Khayyam / Translated by Peter Avery The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (Illustrated Edition), by Omar Khayyam / Translated by Edward FitzGerald The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam Explained, by Paramhansa Yogananda / Edited by J. Donald Walters (Kriyananda) The Sufism of the Rubaiyat or the Secret of the Great Paradox, by Norton F. W. Hazeldine More >>	Dreaming when Dawn's Left Hand was in the Sky I heard a voice within the Tavern cry,      "Awake, my Little ones, and fill the Cup Before Life's Liquor in its Cup be dry."     -- from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, by Omar Khayyam / Translated by Edward FitzGerald Amazon.com
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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

The "tavern" is a common Sufi metaphor, disguising in profane terminology the sacred meeting place, the crown, the pinnacle of the spine, where wine flows down in abundance.

"Wine" too is a spiritual metaphor, representing the celestial drink -- ambrosia, amrita. This is the ecstatic wine of the mystic, the dew gathered by alchemists that turns lead to gold.

You are the cup and Khayyam, the Sufi, is exhorting you to fill yourself with the heavenly draught -- to drink, before the few drops already alotted for the maintenance of the body run dry.

Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger.
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