Omar Khayyam (51)

Juan Cole 03/07/2012

I was deep asleep
when a wise man said to me,
‘The rose of joy never bloomed
for anyone from slumber!
What are you doing? Life is short!
Hit the bar, since you’ll get
plenty of sleep
when you’re six feet under.

Translated by Juan Cole
from Whinfield 51

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