The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam: 2nd Edition, Quatrain LIV

This is another of the quatrains that FitzGerald introduced in the Second Edition of his version of the Rubaiyat.


SECOND EDITION:  QUATRAIN LIV

But if in vain, down on the stubborn floor
Of Earth, and up to Heav'n's  unopening door,
  You gaze To-Day, while You are You--how then 
To-morrow, You when shall be You no more?



 FIFTH EDITION:  QUATRAIN LIII

But if in vain, down on the stubborn floor
Of Earth, and up to Heav'n's  unopening door
  You gaze To-Day, while You are You--how then 
To-morrow, You when shall be You no more? 

The only difference I can see between the two editions is the missing comma at the end of the second line in the Fifth Edition.  Aside from that, the two versions are identical. 

This quatrain seems to link the previous quatrains to several following quatrains. The previous series were of the Master who created the puppet show we are trapped in and hides from us, giving us at best only an occasional glimpse.   We are asked here about the consequences of this situation--our ignorance

It's our ignorance regarding our fate and the refusal? inability? of both heaven and earth to answer our question.  We search now, but tomorrow?  What then, when we are no more.  We get no answers while we are here and certainly no answers when we are no more.