Life

Life

The Poems in the inexplicable The Rubaiyat, written by Omar Khayyam lead us to question the purpose and path one should live. Omar Khayyam wrote The Rubaiyat, during the time of the Seljuk’s rule over Persia which was a period of harsh government and strict religious practices. As a quiet protest against the Seljuk’s rule Khayyam wrote these poems which were unpublished in his lifetime. These poems embed the philosophy of living life to its fullest, while others question the importance of a life.  
The poems in the ever so mysterious, The Rubaiyat, specifically verses VIII and XVI encompass the moral of carpe diem, Latin for “seize the day”. As Omar Khayyam was protesting against the seljuk’s rule, he wrote:
Whether at Naishapur or Babylon,
Whether the Cup with sweet or bitter run,
    The Wine of Life keeps oozing drop by drop,
The Leaves of Life keep falling one by one. (VIII)

Through personification in “The Wine” and “The Leaves” Khayyam is saying life will always follow a pattern of life and death like the Earth follows the pattern of night and day. One needs to take their life into their own hands and use it to its fullest to benefit the pattern of life. These ancient poems, psychologically inspire us to want to thrive in everyday life. Omar Kyahyam, also wrote in his silent protest against the Seljuk’s:
The Worldly Hope men set their Hearts upon
Turns Ashes-or it prospers; and anon,
      Like Snow upon the Desert’s dusty Face,
Lighting a little hour or two-is gone. (XVI)

Using the metaphoric and personified “Like Snow” until “is gone” Khayyam is pointing out that life is very short and at the end of the day a dream is just a dream. One should instead concentrate on pursuing and acting on their hopes and dreams because they only have one life time to do it. Verse numbers VIII and XVI, from The Rubaiyat, embrace the philosophy of, living life to its fullest each and every day.
These unexplained poems in The...