Omar Khayyam (66)

Juan Cole 03/21/2012

I don’t drink wine
for sheer enjoyment
nor to corrupt my morals
nor for irreligion or bad character.
I want to tame my carnal soul
and make it selfless.
That’s why I drink
and why I get drunk

Translated by Juan Cole
from [pdf] Whinfield 66

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