Astronomer-Poet of Persia

A poet and a scientist

Omar Khayyam lived 900 years ago in middle-age Persia. He was a polymath, a mathematican and an astronomer. He and his colleagues calculated the length of the year to 365.24219858156 whereas the modern day equivalent is 365.242190 days.

But I happened to come across his writings below- one of his poetry in a quatrain format, as translated by Edward FitzGerald in 1858:

Quatrain XI (1859)

Herewith a Loaf of Bread beneath the Bough,
A Flask of Wine, a Book of Verse—and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness—
And Wilderness is Paradise enow.

He could've written that just yesterday!

Brother Omar: "Across 900 years, I completely get you bro!"

2024-05