Omar Khayyam (33)

Juan Cole 02/19/2012

Night and day
preceded you and me.
The vault of the sky
revolved upon some work.
Be careful to tread lightly
on the earth–
you’re walking on people
who used to be someone’s
lover.

Translated by Juan Cole
from Whinfield 33.

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