Omar Khayyam (28)

Juan Cole 02/13/2012

Since today
is the time of my youth,
I drink what makes me happy.
Don’t speak badly of it–
although it is bitter, it is good.
It’s bitter
because it is my life.

Trans. Juan Cole
from Whinfield 28

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