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Finding the Holy Grail of Omaresque Oil Painting.This highlights the very special achievement of Edward FitzGerald in creating his seminal work over 160 years ago. We should add our own regret that, while most Rubaiyat enthusiasts welcome any attempt at a new interpretation of Khayyam’s verse for the modern era, it has been hard for any of our commentators, including ourselves, to find positive things to say about this particular new version. Our thanks to Martin for sharing these further thoughts with us. Too often Akhavan’s showy lines rely on a forced rhyme that destroyed any possible joy he I literally had to sit with a dictionary to get through the first half, and then I realized I But Siamak Akhavan’s translated verse wanders and relies on esoteric words or outdated I originally thought I’d like Akhavan’s poetry based on reading only a few lines in the early blog Sadly the latest title by SiamakĪkhavan Omar Khayyam Poems, A Modern Translation failed on so many levels I could not Many did not measure up to the FitzGerald-Omar masterpiece. Over the years I’ve read about many old and new translations. Photos About the Joy, Irony, Fatalism and Transience of Life. Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyám and this was followed by Kibbles for the Soul-Poems and Pet The first was entitled Sipping From The Rubaiyat’s Chalice, My Journey with The I believe I was able to make the most of what was left to spend, having published two books of John Ruskin, The Lamp ofMemory Ah, Love could thou and I with Fate conspire To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire, Would not we shatter it to. To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire,Īh make the most of what we may yet spend, ‘Tis all a Chequer-board of Nights and DaysĪh Love! could thou and I with Fate conspire Some of the lines I clung to from three different poems are listed next: I found reassurance and solace in the poetry’s wit, skepticism, and the celebration of simple joys. His version of the poems haveĪppealed to generations of artists, writers, and everyday people looking for meaning and comfort. The words gave me the courage to face what fate had tossed upįitzGerald’s translation has stood the long steady test of time. Ah, Love could thou and I with Fate conspire.
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To armor myself by returning to read the poems Edward FitzGerald translated into his book The Nowįast forward to the year 2013 and I am facing an uncertain brain surgery. Rhyme of FitzGerald’s translation eventually it found its way past my brain, in to my heart. While it took some time to grasp the cadence and I grew up in the 60s and 70s listening to my father recite Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat before theįireplace in our soft-carpeted living room. But, having had a chance to study the complete book, he has sent us these more critical reflections. Should stamp me back to common Earth again.Martin Kimeldorf, author, poet and commentator on the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, initially responded positively to some of Siamak Akhavan’s new translations of Omar Khayyam’s verses (see end comment on ). My substance from the common Earth was ta'en, "Who is thc Potter, pray, and who the Pot?" Adams was probably familiar with Omar Khayyam, I'd be very surprised if he wasn't, so this may have been an influence:Īnd strange to tell, among that Earthen Lot I also like the early squishing of the 'fine-tuned universe' argument - as muddy, if squishy, rather than splashy, as Douglas Adams' lovely puddle ridiculing it so much later. Ah love, could thou and I with Fate conspire To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire, Would we not shatter it to bits and then Remould it, nearer to the Heart’s Desire1 Utopia is about how we would live and what kind of a world we would live in if we could do just that. Still, it is an interesting point about value. One half so precious as the Goods they sell. His notion of eudæmonia seems closer to hedonism than Epicureianism, though, I think:Īnd much as Wine has play'd the Inifidel,Īnd robb'd me of my Robe of Honour - wcl!, Re-mould it nearer to the Heart*s Desire! Would not we shatter it to bits - and then To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire, At least, I think it's an implication - possibly reinforced by:Īh, Love! could thou and I with Fate conspire More, interesting, though, I think, is his implication of determinism. Is interesting because it echoes the hand in Belshazzar's feast, not just in the graffito aspect, but also in its ominous tidings.
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Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, The Moving Finger writes and, having writ, Omar Khayyam was a sufi - sufis are the jesuits of Islam - but the poem is quite keen on the idea of drinking wine. There are a few things that I think are particularly interesting: It's pretty certain that Epicurus did influence Omar Khayyam, who was, after all, a very well-read mathematician and astronomer, as well as a poet.