Philosophers From Iran

"Ah, with the Grape my fading Life provide, And wash the Body whence the Life has died, And lay me, shrouded in the living Leaf, By some not unfrequented Garden-side."

"That ev'n my buried Ashes such a snare Of Vintage shall fling up into the Air As not a True-believer passing by But shall be overtaken unaware."

"Indeed the Idols I have loved so long Have done my credit in this World much wrong: Have drown'd my Glory in a shallow Cup And sold my Reputation for a Song."

"Indeed, indeed, Repentance oft before I swore — but was I sober when I swore? And then and then came Spring, and Rose-in-hand My thread-bare Penitence apieces tore."

"Alas, that Spring should vanish with the Rose! That Youth's sweet-scented Manuscript should close! The Nightingale that in the Branches sang, Ah, whence, and whither flown again, who knows!"

"Yet Ah, that Spring should vanish with the Rose!"

"Ah, Love! could thou and I with Fate conspire To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire, Would not we shatter it to bits — and then Re-mould it nearer to the Heart's Desire!"

"Ah Love! could you and I with Him conspire."

"Ah, Moon of my Delight who know'st no wane, The Moon of Heav'n is rising once again: How oft hereafter rising shall she look Through this same Garden after me — in vain!"

"Yon rising Moon that looks for us again — How oft hereafter will she wax and wane; How oft hereafter rising look for us Through this same Garden — and for one in vain!"

"Would but some wing'ed Angel ere too late Arrest the yet unfolded Roll of Fate, And make the stern Recorder otherwise Enregister, or quite obliterate!"

"And when Thyself with shining Foot shall pass Among the Guests Star-scatter'd on The Grass, And in Thy joyous Errand reach the Spot Where I made one — turn down an empty Glass!"

"And when like her, oh, Saki, you shall pass."

"Tamám Shud. / It is finished."

"A book, a woman, and a flask of wine: The three make heaven for me; it may be thine   Is some sour place of singing cold and bare — But then, I never said thy heaven was mine."

"But here are wine and beautiful young girls, Be wise and hide your Sorrows in their curls,  Dive as you will in life's mysterious sea, You shall not bring us any better pearls."

"Allah, perchance, the secret word might spell; If Allah be, He keeps His secret well;  What He hath hidden, who shall hope to find? Shall God His secret to a maggot tell?"

"The Koran! well, come put me to the test— Lovely old book in hideous error drest—  Believe me, I can quote the Koran too, The unbeliever knows his Koran best. And do you think that unto such as you, A maggot-minded, starved, fanatic crew,  God gave the secret, and denied it me?— Well, well, what matters it! believe that too."

"Down rain the tears from skies enwrapt in gloom Without this wine the tulips could not bloom. As now these flowerets yield delight to me So shall my dust yield flowers, God knows for whom."

"Man is a cup, his soul the wine therein, Flesh is a pipe, spirit the voice therein, O Khayyam have you fathomed what man is? A magic lantern with a light therein."

"Whilom, ere youth’s conceit had waned, me thought Answers to all life’s problems I had wrought; But now, grown old and wise, too late I see My life is spent, and all my lore is nought."

"Nor you nor I can read the etern decree To that enigma we can find no key They talk of you and me behind the veil But if the veil be lifted, where are we?"