# XCII explained — The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám

> Chapter companion for The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám by Omar Khayyám.

## What happens

The speaker imagines that even his buried ashes will possess such a potent essence of wine that any true believer passing by will be unexpectedly overcome by its influence.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hedonism and Wine

Wine is portrayed as having a lasting, almost supernatural power that persists even after death, ensnaring the pious.

### Mortality and Transience

The speaker contemplates his own death and burial, yet imagines his ashes retaining a vibrant, intoxicating legacy.

## Character check-ins

### Omar Khayyám

Speaker of the quatrain, reflecting on the enduring power of wine from beyond the grave.

## Key lines

> That ev’n my buried Ashes such a snare Of Vintage shall fling up into the Air As not a True-believer passing by But shall be overtaken unaware.

Even after I am dead and buried, my ashes will release such a powerful aroma of wine that any devout Muslim who walks past will be unexpectedly intoxicated.

_The quatrain emphasizes the enduring, almost magical influence of wine, challenging religious piety with hedonistic abandon._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_rub_iy_t_of_omar_khayy_m_se/chapters/xcii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_rub_iy_t_of_omar_khayy_m_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_rub_iy_t_of_omar_khayy_m_se/chapters