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| RUBAIYAT 101-150 |
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| 101 Yesterday I watched how a potter's wheel turned, how calmly a potter mixed, kneaded and churned, disregarding all ranks, clay to make the pots out of kings, feared and admired, of drunks, despised and scorned. 102 After drinking all night I got into a brawl, and smashed an empty jug right against the wall. "Oh, mad man!" the jug cried. "You, for treating me badly, the same terrible fate, the next time will befall!" 103 Under the heavy strikes by the potter's hand, clay has begun to give, slowly, his secrets away: "Do not beat me so hard!" Clay was telling the potter. "I was also a man, just like you, yesterday." 104 This jug brought from the cellar was once, in the past, the young, passionate lad, full of vigor and lust. This is not a jug's handle but his hand embracing the slim waist of a beautiful maiden, at last. 105 In this transient world one day all must die, the great powerful king, and the small, humble fly. If what perishes daily could turn into clouds bloody rain would pour from the blood-laden sky. 106 Fresh as a child's breath wakes up early my rose, warmed by the sun's caress blossoms out my rose. Oh, the treacherous heaven! Just after it blooms sheds the dead petals as the dry leaves soon my rose. 107 More than half of my friends must already be dead. I am waiting my turn racked by sadness and dread. Emptying their cups first at the feast of the living, they left early to lie in the last, earthly bed. 108 What are we but the dolls in the god-child's hands going there, doing that, as his whimsy commands; acting parts, saying words which are not our own, and shoved into the trunk when this child's play ends. 109 Even the best of all, called the chosen one, had his days, months and years numbered under the sun. But the many, no matter how low and humble, shall forever abide, their job's never done. 110 On a whim, once, I dropped in at a potter's place He was turning his wheel at a feverish pace. "Stop, madman!" I cried shrilly. "Look at what you're doing! Can't you see in this clay your dead father's face?" 111 Naughty wind raised the hem of the skirt of a rose. Stunned by beauty, a lark in the mid-air froze. "Feast your eyes upon me", whispered quietly she. "Very soon I'll be gone, turned to dust in death throes." 112 Life is slipping away darkness is moving in, fighting death is futile, it's war none can win. Broken hearts, shattered dreams and the long-suffered bodies shall, at last, find rest in the world's dust bin. 113 Wise men, foolishly proud, you are nothingness, Life is, under the shroud of death, nothingness. Eat, drink, make love as if there is no hereafter. Dance, sing, happy and loud, the rest - nothingness. 114 In this world you're said to be wise? So what? Everyone's seeking your advice? So what? Do you plan to live a hundred years? Don't bother! Even if you would manage it twice, so what? 115 If the pleasure of flesh is what you're looking for, crave good wine and kiss of a woman adore, it is time to wake up from the dream you are living, all shall vanish the moment death knocks on your door. 116 Look at this shameless drunk, dissolute reveler, money, truth, life itself risks without a care. Sharia and Koran matter not to a fellow Show me who is braver than he, anywhere. 117 All that gladdens thy eye, oh my friend, is mirage. All that you ever touched with thy hand is mirage. Nothing is what it seems, everything is illusion. All that has a beginning and end is mirage. 118 What's my life? At best - trifle, at worse - nothingness. What's left after it had run its course? Nothingness. Both ends of the candle I burnt seeking pleasure What's remained besides some remorse? Nothingness! 119 Do not let me come into a house of God I am a godless scum He made out of mud. I have lived like a harlot whose faith is a whoring To wash my sins away send, Lord, the second Flood. 120 Not to think what awaits all of us I cannot. To have faith death is conquered, alas, I cannot. To believe my remains will be resurrected even as a thin blade of green grass I cannot. 121 Why do you, God, grudge men such a simple request to give a broken heart from its pain a rest? How many red lips, sparkling eyes, raven forelocks You, the miser, did hide in the bottomless chest? 122 In the desert-life naked we wander alone, led on by the illusion each step is our own. Mortal man, full of pride, you are a laughing stock. All that you've ever done was by Heavens foreknown. 123 I am leaving because in this vale of tears what I had to endure went beyond my worst fears. Do not rush to condemn me, or to show pity. Are you going to stay for a thousand years? 124 Since a mortal can't hope from Death to run away, Since what God predetermined a man can't delay, Since of wax one cannot make the thing everlasting, It is futile, my friends, to shed tears or to pray. 125 We're the branches of joy, and the deep roots of grief We're the black rotten fruit, and the emerald leaf Life - the mirror contains man's endless reflections Being is infinite even if it is brief. 126 Neither wishes nor deeds you have freedom to choose What Allah preordained a man can't refuse Even knowing that wind and dust is your future Still be grateful, for His must be the highest Truth. 127 Drink your wine! For us nobody had asked If we wished to take on Life's enormous task. Nothing we've ever done has been in our power Heavens all foreordained, each day, dawn to dusk. 128 If you suddenly learned how fleeting life is every precious moment of it try to seize. Do not mourn what has gone, rivers can't flow backward Hope and take heart in wonders the future's filled with. 129 If I could, in due time, find a guiding thread, If I still, after all, faith in Paradise had I would not languish here in this house of horrors where the living so often must envy the dead. 130 Life's the vicious circle defying man's wit Who can grasp the beginning or the end of it? How long can one take all this aimless commotion? Could we blame them who're tired and chose to quit? 131 By a skillful stone carver a vase has been cut not to be dropped and broken by a reckless, drunk nut. How many clear heads, kind hearts, noble spirits breaks meanwhile one who had created them - God. 132 To see what lies behind the curtain of death is not given to man and it's futile to guess. But the instant the veil is lifted it's too late For, alas, he already has drawn his last breath. 133 Some are living as if here and now is all Some are dreaming of Eden before Adam's fall Death obstructs our vision, the mortals can't know the truth hidden from them right behind its wall. 134 No matter how far we, sometimes, run away it is possible, still, to come back home one day. But when your ship crossed, at last, Styx's deathly waters it will never again sail into Life's bay. 135 From my life that has passed, from my death that must come World nothing had gained, nor will lose in sum. In this transient place I'd stay for a short while and shall leave it no wiser than any drunk bum. 136 Do not give ear to sages who've lived the long lives yet could never have learned where man's happiness lies. Find refuge in love, drink good wine, be merry, for one day we'll be gone, whether foolish or wise. 137 God is witness not poverty stopped me to drink, nor agreeing with hypocrites stopped me to drink. I've been drinking to give peace to the restless mind Losing soul and heart to love stopped me to drink. 138 If the wicked were weak and the virtuous strong, would we waste out time thinking of what went wrong? If Art, Beauty and Justice commanded this world no one would lament: "life is short, art is long". 139 Of the meaning of Life it is useless to think. What's left for us to do but to make love and drink. Is the Universe timeless, or was it created it's irrelevant, since our time's but a wink. 140 Like the gray-bearded men, like the rosy-cheeked youth all are destined, at last, to learn the bitter truth: none can hope to stay here but for a short while, neither fathers nor sons shall avoid death, forsooth. 141 In this world each flower is blooming for you, yet do not be deceived by a beautiful view. Generations shall come, generations shall go. Pluck the flowers freely, soon you'll be plucked too. 142 In the morning, sweetheart, fill with wine my cup, let us drink all day long till it is time to sup. Our lives are too short, there is no homecoming for the blessed departed... Therefore - bottoms up! 143 Oh, my love, all my life I've been looking for you, either sadden or bored till the day I've met you. Bring a wine filled cup, let us drink it together. Soon the potter will turn into cups me and you. 144 Be content if your dress does not have gaping holes, if you have bread and water, a bed and four walls. In the bright light of reason what else is important? Isn't life more than gold or fame in the great halls? 145 I can never from hardship get any reprieve, while you're so lucky it's hard to believe. Beware, nevertheless, of Fate's whimsical nature, She has many more tricks up her very long sleeve. 146 Specks of dust stuck together make a continent, drops of water - an ocean beyond measurement. Your birth, your death hardly have any meaning, in the great scheme of things - - a minute nonevent. 147 For each beautiful rose to delight your eye many more, just as lovely, must wither and die. Life is feeding on death, everything is connected in the Universe by the unbreakable tie. 148 To be perfect one must like a dervish be poor, to be perfect one's heart should not look for a cure. One who conquered his passions is near perfection, one who gave up his dreams, one who chose to endure. 149 Once more rain drops tears on the blood-soaked earth as if still trying to wash away Cain's curse. But, alas, the Flood would not do the job - somehow, everything which was bad seems, by now, much worse. 150 All great hopes, all big plans are destroyed. Cruel Fate pours cold water on my head and spits on my plate. Tired soul is ready to flee battered body, it has suffered enough, any longer can't wait. |
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