Omar Khayyam (75)

Juan Cole 04/01/2012

That wine which can take on
diverse forms in its essence
sometimes becomes an animal,
sometimes a plant.
Don’t imagine that its being
ever goes away.
Its essence is always there
even when its attributes are not.

Translated by Juan Cole
from [pdf] Whinfield 75

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