Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Muslim / Sufi

11th Century

Iran/Per
(Middle East)

Omar Khayyam

Timeline (11th Century)

Poems by Omar Khayyam
Books - Links

Omar Khayyam, Omar Khayyam poetry, Muslim / Sufi, Muslim / Sufi poetry, poetry, poetry, poetry

Daily Poem Email

Support the Poetry Chaikhana

Donations to the Poetry Chaikhana in any amount are always welcome. Thank you!	Click here
Click here	A small amount each month makes a big difference. Become a voluntary Subscriber for just $2/mo.
Click here	Help the Poetry Chaikhana reach more people. Become a Supporter for just $10/mo.

Omar Khayyam was best known in his time as a mathematician and astronomer. His theorems are still studied by mathematicians today. His poetry really only became widely read when Edward FitzGerald collected several quatrains (rubaiyat) that were 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 some scholars debate this question, many people assert that Omar Khayyam was a Sufi, as well as a poet and mathematician, and his Rubaiyat can only be truly understood using the language of mystical 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. One Evening at the Close
	[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

	The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, by Omar Khayyam / Translated by Edward FitzGerald Amazon.com
	The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, by Omar Khayyam / Translated by Peter Avery Amazon.com
	The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (Illustrated Edition), by Omar Khayyam / Translated by Edward FitzGerald Amazon.com
	The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam Explained, by Paramhansa Yogananda / Edited by J. Donald Walters (Kriyananda) Amazon.com
	The Sufism of the Rubaiyat or the Secret of the Great Paradox, by Norton F. W. Hazeldine Amazon.com
	Wine of the Mystic: The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyan: A Spiritual Interpretation, by Paramahansa Yogananda Amazon.com

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.

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Omar Khayyam

Daily Poem Email

Support the Poetry Chaikhana

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World