Famous Rubai Poems by Famous Poets

These are examples of famous Rubai poems written by some of the greatest and most-well-known modern and classical poets. PoetrySoup is a great educational poetry resource of famous rubai poems. These examples illustrate what a famous rubai poem looks like and its form, scheme, or style (where appropriate).

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O comrades dear, when hither ye repair

by Omar Khayyam
O comrades dear, when hither ye repair
In times to come, communion sweet to share,
While the cupbearer pours your old Magh wine,
Call poor Khayyam to mind, and breathe a prayer....Read more of this...

My life lasts but a day or two, and fast

by Omar Khayyam
My life lasts but a day or two, and fast
Sweeps by, like torrent stream or desert blast,
Howbeit, of two days I take no heed,—
The day to come, and that already past....Read more of this...

Behold, I must go, and life is saddened by my going; for,

by Omar Khayyam
Behold, I must go, and life is saddened by my going; for,
out of a hundred precious pearls but one have I pierced.
Alas! thanks to the ignorance of men, a hundred thousand
things of deepest import yet remain unheard.
317...Read more of this...

Give me a skin of wine, a crust of bread

by Omar Khayyam
Give me a skin of wine, a crust of bread
A pittance bare, a book of verse to read;
With thee, O love, to share my lowly roof,
I would not take the Sultan's realm instead!...Read more of this...

Khayyam's respects to Mustafa convey,

by Omar Khayyam
Khayyam's respects to Mustafa convey,
And with due reverence ask him to say,
Why it has pleased him to forbid pure wine,
When he allows his people acid whey?...Read more of this...

One draught of wine outweighs the realm of Tus,

by Omar Khayyam
One draught of wine outweighs the realm of Tus,
Throne of Kobad and crown of Kai Kawus;
Sweeter are sighs that lovers heave at morn,
Than all the groanings zealot breasts produce....Read more of this...

Last night, as I reeled from the tavern door,

by Omar Khayyam
Last night, as I reeled from the tavern door,
I saw a sage, who a great wine-jug bore;
I said, «O Shaikh, have you no shame?» Said he,
«Allah hath boundless mercy in his store.»...Read more of this...

Allah hath promised wine in Paradise,

by Omar Khayyam
Allah hath promised wine in Paradise,
Why then should wine on earth be deemed a vice?
An Arab in his cups cut Hamzah's girths,—
For that sole cause was drink declared a vice....Read more of this...

Man is a cup, his soul the wine therein,

by Omar Khayyam
Man is a cup, his soul the wine therein,
Flesh is a pipe, spirit the voice within;
O Khayyam, have you fathomed what man is?
A magic lantern with a light therein!
264...Read more of this...

If this life were indeed an empty play,

by Omar Khayyam
If this life were indeed an empty play,
Each day would be an 'lid of festal day,
And men might conquer all their hearts' desire,
Fearless of after penalties to pay!...Read more of this...

Audit yourself, your truce account to frame,

by Omar Khayyam
Audit yourself, your truce account to frame,
See! you go empty, as you empty came;
You say, «I will not drink and peril life,»
But, drink or no, you must die all the same!...Read more of this...

My heart is weary of hypocrisy,

by Omar Khayyam
My heart is weary of hypocrisy,
Cupbearer, bring some wine, I beg of thee!
This hooded cowl and prayer-mat pawn for wine,
Then will I boast me in security....Read more of this...

At dawn to tavern haunts I wend my way,

by Omar Khayyam
At dawn to tavern haunts I wend my way,
And with distraught Kalendars pass the day;
O Thou! who know'st things secret, and things known,
Grant me Thy grace, that I may learn to pray!...Read more of this...

I am constantly attracted by the sight of limpid wine,

by Omar Khayyam
I am constantly attracted by the sight of limpid wine,
my ears are ever attentive to the melodious sounds of
the flute and of the rubab [viol]. Oh, if the potter make
a pitcher of my dust, would that that pitcher might constantly
be full of wine!...Read more of this...

How long must I make bricks upon the sea?

by Omar Khayyam
How long must I make bricks upon the sea?
Beshrew this vain task of idolatry;
Call not Khayyam a denizen of hell;
One while in heaven, and one in hell is he....Read more of this...

Souls that are well informed of this world's state,

by Omar Khayyam
Souls that are well informed of this world's state,
Its weal and woe with equal mind await:
For, be it weal we meet, or be it woe,
The weal doth pass, and woe too hath its date....Read more of this...

All my life long from drink I have not ceased,

by Omar Khayyam
All my life long from drink I have not ceased,
And drink I will to-night on Kadr's feast;
And throw my arms about the wine-jar's neck,
And kiss its lip, and clasp it to my breast!...Read more of this...

Till the Friend pours his wine to glad my heart,

by Omar Khayyam
Till the Friend pours his wine to glad my heart,
No kisses to my face will heaven impart
They say, «Repent in time»; but how repent,
Ere Allah's grace hath softened my hard heart?...Read more of this...

Did He who made me fashion me for hell,

by Omar Khayyam
Did He who made me fashion me for hell,
Or destine me for heaven? I cannot tell.
Yet will I not renounce cup, lute and love,
Nor earthly cash for heavenly credit sell....Read more of this...

How long will you speak of Yassin and Berat, O cupbearer?

by Omar Khayyam
How long will you speak of Yassin and Berat, O cupbearer?
Give me a treatise upon the tavern, O cupbearer!
The day that it is closed will be for me the night of
Berat, O cupbearer!...Read more of this...

O Khadja, give us lawfully a single one of our desires;

by Omar Khayyam
O Khadja, give us lawfully a single one of our desires;
reserve thy breath and lead us into the way of God.
Surely we walk aright, it is thou that seest crosswise;
heal, then, thine eyes and leave us here in peace....Read more of this...

Against my lusts I ever war, in vain,

by Omar Khayyam
Against my lusts I ever war, in vain,
I think on my ill deeds with shame and pain;
I trust Thou wilt assoil me of my sins,
But even so, my shame must still remain....Read more of this...

Make haste! soon must you quit this life below,

by Omar Khayyam
Make haste! soon must you quit this life below,
And pass the veil, and Allah's secrets know,
Make haste to take your pleasure while you may,
You wot not whence you come, nor whither go....Read more of this...

O potter! be attentive, if thou possessest sound reason!

by Omar Khayyam
O potter! be attentive, if thou possessest sound reason!
How long wilt thou abase man in moulding his clay? It
is the finger of Feridoun, the hand of Kai-Khosrou which
you thus put upon your wheel....Read more of this...

That azure coloured vault and golden tray

by Omar Khayyam
That azure coloured vault and golden tray
Have turned, and will turn yet for many a day;
And just so we, impelled by turns of fate,—
Come here but for a while, then pass away....Read more of this...

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