The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

'If chance supplied a loaf of white bread,

Two casks of wine and a leg of mutton,

In the corner of a garden with a tulip-cheeked girl

There'd be enjoyment that no Sultan can outdo.

 

A rubai is a four-line lyric a,a,b,a, the third line adding variation of form. They were popular verse, anyone and everyone could write and share them. Omar Khayyam (1048-1131)  was a distinguished Iranian philosopher. he wrote rubai for fun. Many variations on a few timeless themes; wine, women, song, seize the magic moment. Especially wine, lots of it. There have been many translations. Rubai may still be popular; according to a recent radio 4 programme Iran is big on poetry contests with heaps of participants and listeners. May try writing some myself.