In celebration of the launch of the Watermill’s Early Bird Offer on all our 2024 creative courses I’m posting a few poems about birds this week. Today the poet is Omar Khayyam, an 11th Century Persian polymath (mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, poet). His book of quatrains (rubaiyat) muses on life and its meaning, as well as on the sheer joy of living. An English translation in 1859 by Edward Fitzgerald proved a great success and its popularity lasted well into the 20th Century. The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam was my mother’s favourite book and from an early age I could quote great chunks of it by heart.
Today’s quatrain perfectly expresses my view of how life should be lived:
Come, fill the Cup, and in the Fire of Spring
The Winter Garment of Repentance fling:
The Bird of Time has but a little way
To fly — and Lo! the Bird is on the Wing
I’m sure you have little or nothing to repent, but the bird of time is on the wing and our Watermill Early Bird offer will only last until the end of 2023. There’s £75 (English pounds) off all our 2024 creative courses – painting, writing, knitting and Italian language – if you reserve your place this year.
If you want to enjoy inspiring teaching, warm hospitality, a beautiful setting, spectacular locations, delicious food and wine, the convivial company of like-minded people AND an Early Bird discount, cast off your inhibitions and make that booking. You’ll only regret it if you don’t!
More about everything on the Watermill website.