The Rubaiyat of Omar Cayenne

"The Rubaiyat of Omar Cayenne" by Gelett Burgess is a satirical poem written in the early 20th century, a period characterized by rapid changes in literature and art. This book serves as a parody of the famous "Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam" and explores themes such as modern literature, the publishing industry, and the nature of creativity amidst commercialism. With a humorous tone, it critiques contemporary literary trends and the pressures faced by authors. In this playful work, Burgess employs a quatrain format to articulate his observations and frustrations about the state of literature and writing. He addresses the challenges that authors encounter, from the overwhelming number of publications to the fickle tastes of readers and critics. Through witty verses, he reflects on the balance between artistic integrity and commercial success, suggesting that much of what is published may lack depth and merit. The poem captures the essence of an author’s struggles while also embracing the absurdities of the literary world, making it both a critique and a celebration of the writing life. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Frank Gelett Burgess was an American artist, art critic, poet, author and humorist. An important figure in the San Francisco Bay Area literary renaissance of the 1890s, particularly through his iconoclastic little magazine, The Lark, and association with The Crowd literary group. He is best known as a writer of nonsense verse, such as "The Purple Cow," and for introducing French modern art to the United States in an essay titled "The Wild Men of Paris." He was the illustrator of the Goops murals, in Coppa's restaurant, in the Montgomery Block and author of the popular Goops books. Burgess coined the term "blurb."