Amongst our rare book collection is a translated book of short poems written by poet, mathematician, and astronomer Umar Khaiyám in the eleventh century. The poems (four-liners called rubáiyát or quatrains) are very mystical, a quality attributed to Khaiyám’s roots in Sufism, a mystical and somewhat transcendentalist sect of Islam. Sixteen richly colored illustrations in the book depict daily rituals and life in Persia. Alongside the English translation of each poem is a French translation, making this book an interesting read for students studying foreign languages or poetry in the Creative Writing program.
Here are a few examples of the style and content of Khaiyám’s poems:
(60)
Every Heart illuminated by the Light of Love, frequenteth the
Shrine of its Illuminator. He, whose Name is written in
Love’s Book, is free from Hope of Heaven, and from Fear of
Hell.
–
Chaque coeur que (Dieu) a éclairé de la lumière de l’affection,
que ce coeur fréquente la mosque ou la synagogue, s’il a
inscrit son nom dans le livre de l’amour il est affranchi et des
soucis de l’enfer et de l’attente du paradis.
(103)
Tell me, o Lover o’ me, what of worldly Riches have I been
able to acquire? None. What of Time past away is left to
me? None. I am Joy’s Torch; but, when its Light is
quenched, I am no more the Torch of Joy. I am Jam’s Cup;
but, being broke, I am no more the Cup of Jam.
–
Dis, ami, qu’ai-je pu acquérir des richesses de ce monde?
Rien. Que m’a laissé dans la main le temps qui s’est écoulé?
Rien. Je suis le flambeau de la joie; mais une fois ce flambeau
éteint, je ne suis plus rien. Je suis la coupe de Djèm, mais
cette coupe une fois brisée, je ne suis plus rien.
To seek out your own interesting archival finds, visit us on Wednesdays from
1:00 – 7:00 p.m. or Thursdays from 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
By Maya Steinborn