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The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám · Chapter
XC explained
As the vessels speak one by one, the little Moon looks in, and they nudge each other, anticipating the porter's shoulder-knot creaking.
What happens
As the vessels speak one by one, the little Moon looks in, and they nudge each other, anticipating the porter's shoulder-knot creaking.
Key passages
“So while the Vessels one by one were speaking, The little Moon look’d in that all were seeking: And then they jogg’d each other, “Brother! Brother! Now for the Porter’s shoulder-knot a-creaking!””
As the cups or vessels spoke in turn, the crescent Moon appeared, which everyone was waiting for; then they nudged each other excitedly, saying, 'Brother! Brother! Now we hear the porter's shoulder-knot creaking as he brings more wine!'
The vessels represent the wine cups or the drinkers, the little Moon is the new moon signaling time for wine, and the porter's shoulder-knot creaking indicates the arrival of a fresh wine jug.