Omar Khayyam (43)

Juan Cole 02/25/2012

Fear of mortality
and notions
of nothingness
are your own kind
of drunkeness.
Otherwise you’d see
that from the
branch of death
twigs of immortality grow.
Ever since Jesus breathed
life into my soul,
everlasting death
has washed its hands of me.

Translated by Juan Cole
from Whinfield 43

About the Author

Juan Cole is the founder and chief editor of Informed Comment and Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History at the University of Michigan. He is author of, among many other books, Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires. Follow him at @jricole.