Are These “Persian Hills”, Like Those Seen By The Narrator As He Sat On His “Omar Khyyam Rock”?
….Does The Narrator’s Recitation Of This Poem = Procrastination? =>
…….So As To Delay His Start On The Tough & Boring, Gumptionology Chautauqua?

….[ “ Chris hollers that he has diarrhea again. “].”
…. We ride until I see a stream below and pull off the road and stop. His face is full of embarrassment again but I tell him we’re in no hurry and get out a change of underwear and roll of toilet paper and bar of soap and tell him to wash his hands thoroughly and carefully after he’s done.”

….“I sit on an Omar Khayyàm rock contemplating the semidesert and feel not bad. ..
….And this first Summer month that brings the Rose . . . oh . . . now it comes back. . . .
Each Morn a thousand Roses brings, you say ,
Yes, but where leaves the Rose of Yesterday?
And this first Summer month that brings the Rose ,
Shall take Jamshyd and Kaikobad away.
….And so on and so forth . . .

…….. Let’s get off Omar and onto the Chautauqua. Omar’s solution is just to sit around and guzzle the wine and feel so bad that time is passing and the Chautauqua looks good to me by comparison. Particularly today’s Chautauqua, which is about gumption.“(Cont.Next)

Land Slide Area, Rt-86, ~12 Miles WestNorthwest of => Richland, OR. Baker City, OR. In The /\ Above /\ Google Street View, at bottom center, you can see the stream and a stretch of the old Rt-86, which is gravel. This stream gets larger as it flows East, and before it flows into the Snake River, is called Powder River. The SECOND Next Photo has a larger view of this area and more explanation.
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….While he waits for Chris to finish, the Narrator here calmly and constructively uses this temporary setback (delay), to relax, rest, and enjoy the scenery. The scene evokes a thoughtful, attentive mood in the Narrator. The same is evoked in us as we read.
….Also, this break from road travel provides time for the Narrator to gradually fetch parts of “The Rubàiyat of Omar Khayyàm” from memory-AND finish for us, the opening Quatrain of The “Rubàiyat of Omar Khayyàm”. Gumption indeed!
….Do these Ohmar Khayyàm’s 12th Century Persian Verses have any connection to Gumption? Can anyone hazard a guess what this might be? Also, what is the ZMM significance of the Blooming Wild Rose?
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In ZMM, Why Does Author Robert Pirsig “Waste” So Many Words On Reciting & Discussing “The Rubàiyat of Omar Khayyàm” ?
….Why Does He Insert These ~Persian Poem Interludes?
…A) Is this “Omar Khayyàm rock“ interlude mere space “filler”? Or merely a minor indication of the passing of time in the story? Essentially a “time killer”?
…B) Or did these lines actually run through Author Robert Pirsig’s head on his 1968 trip, and/or while he wrote this Chapter of ZMM, and/or did this happen in his life at random times?
…C) Or does Mr. Pirsig think “The Rubàiyat of Omar Khayyàm” is important for ZMM Readers to know about? For Example => Are these exotic lines, things he wants us as readers, to realize the precious fragility & and temporary nature of our lives. AND =>
…D) Because these semi-desert hills & cliffs ALSO remind him of Persia (or India), AND
…E) Thus, overall, this Oregon Chapter, is the best place in ZMM for Persian Poem Interludes.

…F) Alternatively => It might simply be that these “Wasted Words”, are a delay indicating the author’s procrastination, in getting down to the really tough, boring task of writing about the (Narrator so stated) boring, tough topic of Gumptionology.

…G) Or thinking positively Re These Interludes => Does Mr. Pirsig intend to show that the Narrator can turn the wasted time to good use, as he patiently waits for Chris to finish? And thus to demonstrate Gumption, Exercising Patience, & Mentally “Don’t get in a hurry”, ,. AND =>

…H) Are these Interlude, also designed to make us, as readers, also be like the Narrator =>
…..1) Peaceful and contented, and thus enjoined to allow what is going to happen … to happen … without impatience?
…..2) Keep ourselves on the Quality Track and Full Of Gumption? …
…..3) And thus be alert and actively looking for exactly how we (also) should respond here? And rather than wasting time, find ways to be productive, and stay on The Quality Track.
….So Please Start Pondering These Above Question A) thru H), And Email Send Me Your Ideas. ….

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(Photo = GoogSat HoleInWallGulch&LandSlidePowderRv WyPt300Rt8612MiWnwRichlandOR.jpg ...... ZMM Page = 272 ...... WayPt = 300i1 2552ft. Google Satellite Photo at WayPt = 301w 2970ft