The Rubaiyat: A Victorious Rid Essay, Research Paper

The Rubaiyat: A Victorious Ride Into the Distance Sunset

Omar Khayyam believes that every moment on earth is extremely precious and should be lived to the fullest. In his verses titled The Rubaiyat Khayyam presents evidence of the passage of life and the uncertainty of any existence after death in a hope to inspire a sense of higher value of life in the reader. The author uses vivid metaphors expressing the only things that are definite in life: the sun rising in the morning and the stars twinkling at night, and the passage of time compared in one metaphor to leaves falling one by one. These images convince the reader of Khayyam s basis for his thought process and he includes a reference to his own personal experiences with the minds of Doctor and Saint and concludes that there is nothing other than the past and present moment that can be proven. Khayyam s method is strongly effective due to his inviting metaphorical verse which completely avoids any harsh commanding tone.

The Wine of Life oozing drop by drop and the Leaves of Life falling one by one (VIII) attract the passage of time as Omar Khayyam emphasizes in his verses. Such importance is placed on this thought because it brings with it a sense of urgency to the piece and the central point. When the Greenpeace corporation makes commercials for donations to save the whales or endangered tigers, they include statistics of how rapidly the animals are being eliminated and how little time there is. This increases the severity of the cause and grabs the viewer s attention. Like these commercials, Khayyam reminds the reader with metaphorical statistics of how time is continually and relentlessly passing by. Like Snow upon the Desert s dusty Face, Lighting a little hour or two is gone (XVI). These reminders raise the level of excitement in the piece and open the reader to receiving the other information Omar Khayyam has to offer.

The author s personal experience supports his idea by allowing him to relate directly with the reader and say Myself when young did eagerly frequent Doctor and Saint, and heard great argument About it and about: but evermore Came out by the same door where in I went (XXVII). This contribution gently allows Khayyam to support his ideas with his own reality. He convinces the reader that they need not listen to these numerous theories and thoughts about what is to come after death for Mr. Khayyam has already done that. And he can personally attest that no idea convinced him in either way. The author encourages that With them the seed of Wisdom did I sow, and with mine own hand wrought to make it grow; And this was all the Harvest that I reap d I came like Water, and like Wind I go. (XXVIII)

An immeasurably loud voice comes from a little cash , which is what Khayyam encourages the reader to deal with rather than credit (XIII). He says that since he has shown that there is no certainty of a life or any existence after death, life should not be spent saving and storing for that uncertain future. Instead Come, fill the Cup, and in the fire of Spring Your Winter-garment of Repentance fling (VII). This thought coerces a carefree attitude, that which Khayyam seems to be looking for. However, through his verses LXXI and XCIX, the reader finds that though Khayyam is prompting for somewhat of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants attitude, he is not urging for the moments to be wasted, neither in a good way or a bad way.

Finally, the author concludes with a more authoritative voice, stabbing the reader with The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all your Tears was out a Word of it (LXXI). The reader is both encouraged and warned that there is no changing the past; no going back. So when you are in the moment, make the most of it so you will have no regrets after it has passed.