Omar Khayyam (58)

Juan Cole 03/12/2012

My creed is to drink wine
and be happy;
my faith is to be devoid
of unbelief and religion.
I said to the bride of fate,
“How big a diamond would you like?”
She said, “My diamond is your
joyous heart.”

Translated by Juan Cole
from [pdf] Whinfield 58

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