Quatrain#101-illustration for Omar Khayyam

Omar Khayyam-Quatrain#101-Edward Fitzgerald tr.5 ed.,

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Quatrain#202 the Great Silence

Some tales with much moral add’d to lend weight
Prophets have told us: such is their bless’d state
We took it gospel truth: They are all dead.
None returns after he has pass’d the gate.

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The Rubaiyat-Benny Thomas: Quatrain #87

Divine Will- the Inner Eye

Life of the senses has spread the feast sure

Each takes his fill and thinks the world as fair:

But in death earth has her treasures laid out

True heirs we are, bereft of senses there.

benny

“Under God’s benign eye we may see His rich treasures through His eyes. What makes any one think his eyes are better than that of his maker?” b

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Quatrain-the Rubaiyat: a parody

Well, hit or miss, what! Are we in the red
Like Lehman Brothers?-the world has gone mad.
Let Banks cry, “Foreclose!” as they please
Money is all that need not lose its head.
(#8 in the Second ed.)
benny

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Omar Khayyam-Rubaiyat parodies

Parodies based on Edward Fitzgerald version:
2.

Seeking yet old thrill,-it begins anew
I heard a cry within, ‘Snort or go bust!’
‘Yeah with a monkey on my back a fix
Will give my world its center: I am at rest !

3.
A quick bite on the run to my workplace
Will keep me for the day in this rat race:
You do know how to get on without sweat?
Backbite or kiss the ass to save the face. (#2 and 3 from First Ed.)

#12

Here with a kindle O, beneath the Sun
A word or two from my love,-it is fun
If she had her Kindle too; Had Khayyam
lived now would he check out from Amazon?

(Fifth Ed.)
benny

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Quatrain #29

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The Illustrated Omar Khayyam

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Omar Khayyam- quatrain# 40

Here below I am giving two versions of the Edward Fitzgerald translation.
First the original followed wih a free translation and the last in traditional rhyme pattern AABA.
#40 quartrain( Fifth ed.)
As then the Tulip for her morning sup
Of Heav’nly vintage from the soil looks up,
Do you devoutly do the like,till Heav’n
To Earth invert you-like an empty cup.

40.
Even as the rose drinks deep mists of vintage
Celestial to raise drooping spirit upwards;
Likewise attend to wine from grapes pressed
Till from Heaven your mouth is stopped.

40a.
Morning mists tend a tulip to buck up
From her sleep as wine keeps our spirits up.
Think that death will let us keep ours intact?
All that we held on is for worms to sup.

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Illustrated Omar Khayyam- quatrain #7

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Illustrated Omar Khayyam- quatrain #46

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