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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

The wine-cup is the little silver well, Where truth, if truth there be, doth dwell.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Truth Wine Wisdom
There was a door to which I found no key: There was the veil through which I might not see.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Door Key Myself See
This clay, so strong of heart, of sense so fine, Surely such clay is more than half divine–‘Tis only fools speak evil of the clay, The very stars are made of clay like mine.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Divine Fools Heart Stars Strong Talk
To wisely live your life, you don’t need to know much just remember two main rules for the beginning: You better starve, than eat whatever And better be alone, than with whoever.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Alone Beginning Better Food Life Need Remember Rule Starve Wisdom Worth Yourself
I sent my Soul through the Invisible, Some letter of that After-life to spell: And by and by my Soul return’d to me, And answer’d: ‘I Myself am Heav’n and Hell.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Heaven Hell Life Myself Soul
Oh! My beloved! fill the cup, that clears to-day of past regrets and future fears.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Fear Future Love Past Regret Relationship Wine
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
And this I know; whether the one True Light Kindle to Love, or Wrath consume me quite, One flash of it within the Tavern caught Better than in the temple lost outright.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Light Lost Love Quite Temple True
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
It’s too bad if a heart lacks fire, and is deprived of the light of a heart ablaze. The day on which you are without passionate love is the most wasted day of your life.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Bad Fire Heart Life Light Love Passionate Wasted Time Yourself
The secret must be kept from all non-people. The mystery must be hidden from all idiots.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Hide Mystery People Secret Stupidity
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 as in I went.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Doctor Greatness Myself Saint Young
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
Alas, that Spring should vanish with the Rose! That Youths sweet-scented Manuscript should close!
OMAR KHAYYAM

Rose Spring Youth
Better be jocund with the fruitful Grape Than sadden after none, or bitter, Fruit.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Better Fruit Pleasure Sadness
The moving finger writes; and having writ, moves on.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Break Fingers Move On Silence Writing

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.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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