The Rubaiyat - NO GOING BACK

The Rubaiyat - of Omar Khayyam

Reflections on Mortality and Wine

This was a favorite of my Father - he loved this poem.

The Rubaiyat is an ancient, one thousand year old, cynically humorous, and savage reflection on mortality.

The moving finger refers to the narrative of your life story - and it tells you simply that there is "NO GOING BACK"

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Think, in this batter'd Caravanserai 
Whose Portals are alternate Night and Day,
How Sultan after Sultan with his Pomp 
Abode his destined Hour, and went his way. 

I sometimes think that never blows so red
The Rose as where some buried Caesar bled;
That every Hyacinth the Garden wears
Dropt in her Lap from some once lovely Head. 

And this reviving Herb whose tender Green
Fledges the River-Lip on which we lean --
Ah, lean upon it lightly! for who knows
From what once lovely Lip it springs unseen! 

Waste not your Hour, nor in the vain pursuit
Of This and That endeavour and dispute;
Better be jocund with the fruitful Grape
Than sadden after none, or bitter, Fruit. 

You know, my Friends, with what a brave Carouse
I made a Second Marriage in my house;
Divorced old barren Reason from my Bed
And took the Daughter of the Vine to Spouse. 

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 wash out a Word of it. 

And that inverted Bowl they call the Sky, 
Whereunder crawling coop'd we live and die,
Lift not your hands to It for help -- for It
As impotently moves as you or I. 

IN FULL

THE RUBAIYAT

THE MOVING FINGER WRITES...

GET USE TO IT!