Saturday, January 21, 2012

Classic Poetry - "XI" by Omar Khayyam



Omar Khayyam, 1044 - 1123

XI

Here with a loaf of bread beneath the bough
a flask of wine, a book of verse -- and thou
beside me singing in the wilderness --
and wilderness is paradise enow.



Omar Khayyam was a significant mathematician and astronomer of the medieval era. He wrote one of the most important early discourses on algebra, Treatise on Demonstration of Problems of Algebra, which includes a geometric method for solving cubic equations by intersecting a hyperbola with a circle. He is equally well-known for his collected poetry, The Rubaiyat, as translated by the 19th century english poet and writer, Edward FitzGerald.

Quite the romantic, this man of math and science!

13 comments:

  1. N.B. Is the word at the end of the second line not 'thou' - i.e. 'you'? It rhymes with bough...

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  2. His love poetry is the essence of beauty. I remember discovering it when I was just a little kid, I found Omar Khayyam's book in my parents' house, and would read it in secret. I'm sure I didn't understand much, but I did know it was beautiful. It was like a whole different world in a small book.

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  3. It is beautiful, isn't it? I'm trying to move forward in time with these classic poetry posts, and loving some of the older translated material that I have encountered. Glad you like it, too!

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  4. So simple, so beautiful. Thanks for sharing :)

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  5. Wow, it says so much with so few words. I wish I could write lyrics this meaningful.

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  6. a few words provide a picture of the moment.

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  7. So often misquoted, yet this original stanza is perfect without alteration.

    Except: should widerness be wilderness?

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    Replies
    1. Yes. And Yes. And fixed. Lordy! Never so many errors in one post. I need a better editor... oh wait! I am my editor! Thanks, Viv and all for your patience.

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  8. So lovely........sigh. My dream man! Hee hee. Hey, I finally have something to post on the pantry and it's not up yet!

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  9. As vivinfrance says this is often misquoted but it is excellent, good to be reminded of it.

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  10. I liked read of Omar! I like his style very much. He says so much with such great brevity. Thank you for posting. Interesting section on the Classics and a place where we may all learn.

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