Wine

Wine is the central symbol throughout the Rubáiyát and represents life, exuberance, merriment and vivacity. It is referred to as the “fruit” (54) “grape” (58, 59) “daughter of the vine” (55) “familiar juice” (89) and “ruby” (5) that “kindles in the vine” (5). The imagery around wine is one of sweet release. It is considered a heavenly nectar that “Life’s leaden metal into Gold transmute” (59). To say that the tone in which this symbol in bandied about is elegiac would be an understatement. Much of the verse culminates by referring again and again back to wine imbibing as the only solution to humanity’s conundrum, sorrow and confusion.

Birds

Birds symbolize time in the Rubáiyát. Omar Khayyam invokes the flight of the bird to suggest the abrupt passage of time. Bird flight is unexpected and rapid. The trajectory of the bird is unpredictable and potentially vast. What the...