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But helpless Pieces of the Game He plays Upon this Checker-board of Nights and Days; Hither and thither moves, and checks, and slays, And one by one back in the Closet lays.

Omar Khayyam

Dead yesterdays and unborn tomorrows, why fret about it, if today be sweet.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Born Death Future Past Present
The rose that once has bloomed forever dies.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Bloom Death Rose
This body is a tent which for a space Does the pure soul with kingly presence grace; When he departs, comes the tent-pitcher, Death, Strikes it, and moves to a new halting-place.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Body Grave Place Presence Pure Soul Space
Ah Love! could you and I with him conspire To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire Would we not shatter it to bits-and then Re-mould it nearer to the Heart’s Desire?
OMAR KHAYYAM

Desire Heart Life Love Sorry World
Indeed the Idols I have loved so long, have done my credit in this World much wrong; have drowned my Glory in a shallow Cup, and sold my Reputation for a Song.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Glory Love Reputation Song Wisdom World Wrong
I can’t reveal the mystery to either saint or sinner; I can’t state at length what I’ve said curtly; I achieve an altered state that I can’t explain; I have a secret that I cannot share.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Achievement Explanation Myself Mystery Reveal Saint Secret Sin
But helpless Pieces of the Game He plays Upon this Checker-board of Nights and Days; Hither and thither moves, and checks, and slays, And one by one back in the Closet lays.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Game Help Night Oneself Pieces Play
I hide my grief, just like the blessed birds hide themselves when they are preparing to die, my love.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Blessing Death Grief Hide Love Myself Preparation
Hearts are like tapers, which at beauteous eyes Kindle a flame of love that never dies; And beauty is a flame, where hearts, like moths, Offer themselves a burning sacrifice.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Burn Death Eyes Flame Heart Love Sacrifice
Oh, the brave Music of a distant drum!
OMAR KHAYYAM

Brave Distance Music War
We are thinking about bad only those who are worse than we are, and those who are better than us … I’m just not up to us … One does not follow it than smell roses. Another of the bitter herbs will produce honey. Give bread to one – will remember forever. Another life donation – do not understand.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Bad Better Forever Life Remember Rose Thinking Understand Worst
The value of three things is justly appreciated by all classes of men: youth, by the old; health, by the diseased; and wealth, by the needy.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Important Man Money Need Old Value Wealth Worth Youth
How sad, a heart that does not know how to love, that does not know what it is to be drunk with love. If you are not in love, how can you enjoy the blinding light of the sun, the soft light of the moon?
OMAR KHAYYAM

Enjoyment Heart Light Love Moon Sad Yourself
So I be written in the Book of Love. I do not care about that Book Above. Erase my name, or write it as you will. So I be written in the Book of Love.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Book Care Love Myself Poet Writing
Drink! for you know not when you came, nor why; Drink! for you know not why you go, nor where.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Alcohol Drink Travel Yourself
When I want to understand what is happening today or try to decide what will happen tomorrow, I look back.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Decision Myself Past Present Understand

But helpless Pieces of the Game He plays Upon this Checker-board of Nights and Days; Hither and thither moves, and checks, and slays, And one by one back in the Closet lays.

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But helpless Pieces of the Game He plays Upon this Checker-board of Nights and Days; Hither and thither moves, and checks, and slays, And one by one back in the Closet lays.

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Popular Authors

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