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 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.