The Rubaiyat of Omar Khyaam is mystic poetry. For those of us enamored of this particular poem it is only natural that we should want to define it and explain its meaning to others who do not yet appreciate it as much as we do. We might therefore choose alternative translations (white pulsing star) for the verses, seek images (red star) that evoke the meaning of the verses, or even collect or write personal but suggestive interpretations (blue star). Generally, among mystics and their devotees, imagery is explained by imagery, anyway and art is often used to explain art.

 The Great Work of the Rubaiyat (or Rubaiyat) was completed by the mid 18th. century. Adequate translations and art illustrations for evoking the meaning of the Persian verses was completed by 1950. Publishing of the Rubaiyat crescendos prior to 1950. Our grandparents understood perfectly well what the old astronomer was laying down. And probably we can add nothing that our grandkids will think remarkable. Still,

 ...and I was never deep in anything but wine.

 We should not interpret the Rubaiyat as being too very clever or deep. Certainly Omar himself was not glib or morose, nor was his (or our?) lives so profound that we should be overly awestruck by them. I suspect Omar had a very philosophical sense of humor albeit somewhat of a Zen nature. I also suspect that when Omar wrote "wine" he meant wine.  He was centuries ahead of anyone in the West in his appreciation for the great works of the Greek philosophers, and particularly the stoics.  The Rubaiyat (or testimony) is also a remarkable secular humanist statement.

The Rubaiyat strikes me as an ideal death poem, appropriate more for funnery-reading than Valentine's day or even “Dionysian” festivals. But perhaps that is just me.

 Incidentally, I am continually soliciting images and interpretations for this project. You are free to submit yours. The images should say something about the human condition, Omar and ours. Like most collectors of Rubaiyats, particularly illustrateds, I love erotic imagery. Rubaiyat verses have traditionally been paired with erotic imagery. However, if you do not know the difference between erotic and pornographic imagery you should not submit images for this project.