Omar Khayyam (87)

Juan Cole 04/03/2012

Hurry up, for you will be
separated from the spirit.
You will go behind the
curtain of God’s mysteries.
Have some wine, since you don’t know
where you came from;
be happy, since you don’t know
where you’re going.

Translated by Juan Cole
from [pdf] Whinfield 87

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