Omar Khayyam Iran/Persia (11th Century) Timeline Muslim / Sufi Poems by Omar Khayyam Books - Links

Omar Khayyam was best known in his time as a mathematician and astronomer. His theorems are still studied by mathematicians today. His poetry became widely read when Edward FitzGerald collected several quatrains (rubaiyat) attributed to Khayyam and translated them into English as the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

The common view in the West of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam is that it is a collection of sensual love poems. Although people still debate this question, many assert that Omar Khayyam was a Sufi and that his Rubaiyat can only be properly understood as spiritual metaphor.

Poems by Omar Khayyam

• [1] AWAKE! for Morning in the Bowl of Night
• [2] Dreaming when Dawn's Left Hand was in the Sky
• [3] And, as the Cock crew, those who stood before
• [4] Now the New Year reviving old Desires
• [5] Iram indeed is gone with all its Rose
• [6] And David's Lips are lock't; but in divine
• [7] Come, fill the Cup, and in the Fire of Spring
• [8] And look -- a thousand Blossoms with the Day
• [9] But come with old Khayyam, and leave the Lot
• [10] With me along the strip of Herbage strown
• [11] Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath the Bough
• [12] "How sweet is mortal Sovranty!" -- think some
• [13] Look to the Rose that blows about us -- "Lo
• [14] The Worldly Hope men set their Hearts upon
• [15] And those who husbanded the Golden Grain
• [16] Think, in this batter'd Caravanserai
• [17] They say the Lion and the Lizard keep
• [18] I sometimes think that never blows so red
• [19] And this delightful Herb whose tender Green
• [20] Ah, my Beloved, fill the Cup that clears
• [21] Lo! some we loved, the loveliest and best
• [22] And we, that now make merry in the Room
• [23] Ah, make the most of what we may yet spend
• [24] Alike for those who for To-day prepare
• [25] Why, all the Saints and Sages who discuss'd
• [26] Oh, come with old Khayyam, and leave the Wise
• [27] Myself when young did eagerly frequent
• [28] With them the Seed of Wisdom did I sow
• [29] Into this Universe, and Why not knowing
• [30] What, without asking, hither hurried whence?
• [31] Up from Earth's Centre through the Seventh Gate
• [32] There was a Door to which I found no Key
• [33] Then to the rolling Heav'n itself I cried
• [34] Then to this earthen Bowl did I adjourn
• [35] I think the Vessel, that with fugitive
• [36] For in the Market-place, one Dusk of Day
• [37] Ah, fill the Cup: -- what boots it to repeat
• [38] One Moment in Annihilation's Waste
• [39] How long, how long, in infinite Pursuit
• [40] You know, my Friends, how long since in my House
• [41 - later edition] Perplext no more with Human or Divine Perplext no more with Human or Divine
• [41] For "Is" and "Is-not" though with Rule and Line
• [42 - later edition] Waste not your Hour, nor in the vain pursuit Waste not your Hour, nor in the vain pursuit
• [42] And lately, by the Tavern Door agape
• [43] The Grape that can with Logic absolute
• [44] The mighty Mahmud, the victorious Lord
• [45] But leave the Wise to wrangle, and with me
• [46 - later edition] Why, be this Juice the growth of God, who dare Why, be this Juice the growth of God, who dare
• [46] For in and out, above, about, below
• [47] And if the Wine you drink, the Lip you press
• [48] While the Rose blows along the River Brink
• [49] 'Tis all a Chequer-board of Nights and Days
• [50] The Ball no Question makes of Ayes and Noes
• [51 - later edition] Why, if the Soul can fling the Dust aside
• [51] The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ
• [52 - later edition] But that is but a Tent wherein may rest
• [52] And that inverted Bowl we call The Sky
• [53 - later edition] I sent my Soul through the Invisible
• [53] With Earth's first Clay They did the Last Man knead
• [54] I tell Thee this -- When, starting from the Goal
• [55] The Vine has struck a fiber: which about
• [56] And this I know: whether the one True Light
• [57] Oh Thou, who didst with Pitfall and with gin
• [58] Oh, Thou, who Man of baser Earth didst make
• [59] Listen again
• [60] And, strange to tell, among that Earthen Lot
• [61] Then said another -- "Surely not in vain
• [62] Another said -- "Why, ne'er a peevish Boy
• [63] None answer'd this; but after Silence spake
• [64] Said one -- "Folks of a surly Tapster tell
• [65] Then said another with a long-drawn Sigh
• [66] So while the Vessels one by one were speaking
• [67] Ah, with the Grape my fading Life provide
• [68] That ev'n my buried Ashes such a Snare
• [69] Indeed the Idols I have loved so long
• [70] Indeed, indeed, Repentance oft before
• [71] And much as Wine has play'd the Infidel
• [72] Alas, that Spring should vanish with the Rose!
• [73] Ah Love! could thou and I with Fate conspire
• [74] Ah, Moon of my Delight who know'st no wane
• [75] And when Thyself with shining Foot shall pass

Recommended Books: Omar Khayyam

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam	The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam Explained	The Sufism of the Rubaiyat or the Secret of the Great Paradox	Wine of the Mystic: The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyan: A Spiritual Interpretation	The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (Illustrated Edition)
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

Related Links

Omar Khayyam: Mathematician
http://www-gap.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Khayyam.html
Biographical sketch of Khayyam, focusing on his accomplishments as a mathematician.

ELF: Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
http://www.arabiannights.org/rubaiyat/index2.html
View several different translations on-line.

The Rubaiyat of Omary Khayyam: A complete on-line resource
http://www.therubaiyat.com/
Contains all of the major translations of the Rubaiyat, including the four by FitzGerald, also by Brodie, Talbot, and Whinfield. Vocabulary and literary analysis.

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