Omar Khayyam (89)

Juan Cole 04/08/2012

For a whole lifetime,
I’ve made praising wine
a constant exercise.
I always have its
instruments around me.
Prude, if reason
is your teacher here,
cheer up– for your teacher
is my student.

Translated by Juan Cole
from [pdf] Whinfield 89

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