Omar Khayyam (67)

Juan Cole 03/23/2012

They say that drunkards
are consigned to hell;
but that makes no sense
and the heart cannot
accept it.
If lovers and lushes
are going to hell,
tomorrow heaven will be
as empty as my hand.

Translated by Juan Cole
from [pdf] Whinfield 67

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