Omar Khayyam (23)

Juan Cole 02/10/2012

Fish said to duck, frantic,
Will the water ever return
if the river jumps its course?
Duck replied, When you and I
are skewered and kebob,
let it be a river or
let it be mirage.

Trans. Juan Cole
Whinfield 23

About the Author

Juan Cole is the founder and chief editor of Informed Comment. He is 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 and The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Follow him on Twitter at @jricole or the Informed Comment Facebook Page