Omar Khayyam (73)

Juan Cole 03/31/2012

Clouds rolled in
and wept tears on the field.
Without wine, purple flowers
cannot grow.
The greenery provides
pleasant scenery for me today.
For whose delight will my remains
nurture grass tomorrow?

Translated by Juan Cole
from [pdf] Whinfield 73

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.