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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

We are in truth but pieces on this chess board of life, which in the end we leave, only to drop one by one into the grave of nothingness.
OMAR KHAYYAM

End Game Grave Leaving Life Pieces Truth
The rose that once has bloomed forever dies.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Bloom Death Rose
Wake! For the Sun, who scatter’d into flight The Stars before him from the Field of Night, Drives Night along with them from Heav’n, and strikes The Sultan’s Turret with a Shaft of Light.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Himself Light Night Stars Sun Wake Up
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 you are so full of sorrow that you can’t walk, can’t cry anymore, think about the green foliage that sparkles after the rain. When the daylight exhausts you, when you hope a final night will cover the world, think about the awakening of a young child.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Children Cry Hope Night Rain Thinking Walk World Young
Heaven but the vision of fulfilled desire, and Hell the shadow from a soul on fire.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Deep Fire Heaven Hell Shadow Soul Vision
So when that Angel of the darker Drink, at last shall find you by the river-brink, And, offering his Cup, invite your Soul forth to your Lips to quaff-you shall not shrink.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Angel Darkness Lips River Soul Yourself
Up from Earth’s Centre through the Seventh Gate rose, and on the Throne of Saturn sate; And many a Knot unravel’d by the Road; But not the Master-knot of Human Fate.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Earth Fate Human Road Rose Travel
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
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
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
As far as you can avoid it, do not give grief to anyone. Never inflict your rage on another. If you hope for eternal rest, feel the pain yourself; but don’t hurt others.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Angry Avoid Feeling Forever Grief Hope Hurt Pain Yourself
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
Give me a flagon of red wine, a book of verses, a loaf of bread, and a little idleness. If with such store I might sit by thy dear side in some lonely place, I should deem myself happier than a king in his kingdom.
OMAR KHAYYAM

Book Food Freedom Happiness Lonely Myself Place Satisfaction Wine
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
Alas, that Spring should vanish with the Rose! That Youths sweet-scented Manuscript should close!
OMAR KHAYYAM

Rose Spring Youth

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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