Many have argued that the poetry of Khayyam is mystical. Another viewpoint, which explains the allure of the Rubaiyat much more convincingly, suggests that the seemingly hedonistic nature of Khayyam is not allegorical, but expresses a deep skepticism and an endless sorrow about the "human condition": Death is lurking, and when we leave we will not return; this life here is Paradise. Seize the day, therefore, for this is the only comfort for a meaningless existence: drink your wine, find joy with your companions, and make love. The translation aims to make Khayyam's verses sound like smooth Greek when read aloud. Moreover, an effort has been made to preserve the poet's delicate humor and sarcasm, his poignant simplicity, the playfulness of his allusions, the surprises of the imagery he generously offers, the realism of the verses, his earthly sensitivity, and the deep shadow of his melancholy. Without a doubt, Khayyam's poetry is timeless, and has an absolute connection to the present and to us.