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Strophes of Omar Khayyám

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Strophes of Omar Khayyám is a collection of poetic verses that explore themes of love, life, and the passage of time. Written by the renowned Persian poet Omar Khayyám, this book is a beautiful and thought-provoking journey through existential questions and musings on the human experience.

Khayyám's writing is imbued with a sense of longing and contemplation, as he reflects on the transient nature of existence and the complexities of emotion. His words resonate with a timeless quality, capturing the essence of universal truths that continue to hold relevance today.

The lyrical quality of Khayyám's poetry is both captivating and poignant, drawing the reader into a world of introspection and introspection. Through his verses, he invites us to ponder the mysteries of life and the interconnectedness of all things.

Overall, Strophes of Omar Khayyám is a profound and evocative work that will resonate with readers who appreciate poetry that delves into the depths of human experience. Khayyám's timeless words remind us of the beauty and fragility of life, and the importance of savoring each moment.

Book Description:
One of the earliest versions of Omar Khayyám's quatrains by an American translator is John Leslie Garner's collection, published in 1888. It contains 152 quatrains, which the translator calls "Strophes." The collection is divided into eleven books, introduced by quotations from Bourne's "Anacreon," Leconte de Lisle, Giordano Bruno, Goethe, Alfred de Musset, Paul Bourget, Marcus Antoninus, St. James, Sully-Prudhomme, Edmund Waller, and Escriva.

In his preface Garner says : "The collection might have been made much larger, but it was deemed inadvisable, as Omar's themes are not many, and the ever-recurring Wine, Rose, and Nightingale are somewhat cloying to Occidental senses." Garner further states: "The great questions of human life are of all times and of all ages, and although Omar never tired of struggling with them, he discovered nothing new, and at last, feeling that Death alone was certain, he resigned the task in despair...." Hence, Garner's version is pervaded by a gentle melancholy, and provides a striking contrast with the rubric splendour of Fitzgerald's famous rendering, and is therefore more consonant with current thinking about Persia's most celebrated classic poet.


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