Omar Khayyam (105) “Wine is melted Rubies”

Juan Cole 04/26/2012

Wine is melted rubies,
and the glass
is like a mine.
The carafe is
the body,
and the alcohol its soul.
This crystal goblet
that laughs with wine
was formed from tears that
concealed within themselves
the heart’s own blood.

Translated by Juan Cole
from [pdf] Whinfield 105

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