Omar Khayyam (45)

Juan Cole 02/26/2012

Since things are not going
to work out the way we want,
where will it get us
to dwell on our struggles?–
Except to sit around moping
that we got here late
and we’ll have to leave early.

Translated by Juan Cole
from Whinfield 45

About the Author

Juan Cole is the founder and chief editor of Informed Comment. He is Richard P. Mitchell Distinguished University Professor in the History Department at the University of Michigan He is author of, among many other books, Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires and The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Follow him on Twitter at @jricole or the Informed Comment Facebook Page