18 Esfand 1404
Quatrain 45 of 75
“But leave the Wise to wrangle, and with me
The Quarrel of the Universe let be:
And, in some corner of the Hubbub coucht,
Make Game of that which makes as much of Thee.”
Reflection · Winter 1404
The Quarrel of the Universe has been going since before the world was named and will go until after. Leave it to be — in winter this is easier because the quiet makes the wrangling less convincing. In some corner of the winter Hubbub — the corner is small and warm and the Hubbub is cold and large. This is exactly the proportion Khayyam recommends.
Make Game — the winter game is slower, more reflective, more likely to pause mid-move and look at the board. But it is still a game, still mutual, still the correct response to the situation. The universe making its game with you; you making your game back. Both players present. Neither winning. Both amused.