Life — January 25, 1923 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of "Lines to the Tentmaker" This page commemorates the 800th anniversary of Omar Khayyam's death (1123), the Persian poet-mathematician. The poem uses his famous association with hedonism—wine, song, and earthly pleasures—to meditate on mortality and legacy. The satirical point appears gentle: while Omar's sensual pleasures have faded into history, his artistic and intellectual contributions endure. The poem contrasts his "mirth and music" with lasting cultural impact, suggesting that life's true measure lies in what we leave behind rather than momentary indulgence. The illustration shows a domestic scene of a woman reading to a child, reinforcing themes of wisdom and memory passing between generations—a fitting visual for a piece about artistic legacy. The initials "E.F.H." credit the poem's author.