The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám · Chapter
VII explained
The poet urges seizing the moment, casting off repentance, and embracing the fleeting nature of time symbolized by a bird in flight.
What happens
The poet urges seizing the moment, casting off repentance, and embracing the fleeting nature of time symbolized by a bird in flight.
Themes in this chapter
Carpe Diem
The call to fill the cup and fling repentance embodies seizing the present moment.
Mortality and Transience
The Bird of Time with only a little way to flutter underscores life's brevity.
Characters to notice
- Omar Khayyám
Speaker of the quatrain, urging carpe diem.
Key passages
“Come, fill the Cup, and in the fire of Spring Your Winter-garment of Repentance fling”
Come, pour the wine, and burn your regrets in the warmth of spring.
Encourages abandoning remorse for joyful indulgence.
“The Bird of Time has but a little way To flutter—and the Bird is on the Wing.”
Life's time is short, and it is already passing swiftly.
Emphasizes the urgency of living fully before time runs out.