OMAR KHAYYAM - "WINE LOOSENS EVEN CAST-IRON SHACKLES'

Wine-bibbing makes people
       less full of themselves,
and wine loosens even
    cast-iron  shackles.
If satan had only
    tippled every night,
he would not have been cast down
         from heaven for his pride.

Translated by Juan Cole
from Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, [pdf] Whinfield 313/ Arberry 1949

OMAR KHAYYAM - 'WHEN LIFE HAS BEEN DRUNK TO THE DREGS'

When life has been drunk to the dregs,
whether at home or abroad;
and its full measure used up,
whether it’s been bitter or sweet;
have some wine,
since after you and me,
the moon will go on
waxing and waning
from crescent to full.

Translated by Juan Cole
from Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, [pdf] Whinfield 134

'OMAR KHAYYAM ON FORGIVENESS AND FALLING OFF THE WAGON'

I singlehandedly keep
this bar afloat.
My heart has bled
with repentance
a couple thousand times.
But if I don’t go on sinning,
what would divine mercy do?
He can’t bestow forgiveness
unless I keep falling
off the wagon.

 Translated by Juan Cole
from Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, [pdf] Whinfield 130

Oh, do I like this. What would God do with godself without sinners in need of forgiveness? Khayyam is such a rogue, but a thinking rogue, and he often makes me smile. (as I said at Juan's blog)

OMAR KHAYYAM - LOVERS ARE AT HOME IN HEAVEN AND IN HELL

Seekers of the truth look at the
lovely and the ugly
as the same.
Lovers are at home
in heaven and in hell.
Those who’ve lost their hearts can
dress in satin or sack cloth;
the infatuated
do not know if they are laying
down their heads in clouds or
resting them on earthen bricks.

Translated by Juan Cole
from [pdf] Whinfield 128

I've enjoyed immensely Juan's series translations of Omar Khayyam.

Juan Cole at Informed Comment.

JUAN COLE TRANSLATES OMAR KHAYYAM

Omar Khayyam (92)

by Juan

The sky is a belt
woven from our tattered lives.
The mighty river was formed
by all the tears
our eyes have shed.
Hell is a spark from our
searing pain.
Heaven is a breath
drawn from our
moments of peace.

Translated by Juan Cole
from [pdf] Whinfield 92

Juan blogs at Informed Comment.

JUAN COLE TRANSLATES OMAR KHAYYAM

Omar Khayyam (55)

Bartender, since fate
has defeated you and me,
and this world is not a
dwelling for you and me;
but given that we have a glass of wine
in our midst
know for sure that the truth
is in your hand and mine.

Translated by Juan Cole
from [pdf] Whinfield 55

Ah yes. Sometimes it is exactly so.

From Juan Cole at Informed Comment.

JUAN COLE TRANSLATES OMAR KHAYYAM

Omar Khayyam (31)

Don’t try every door
because of some bauble;
you just have to accept
the good and bad of your time;
a shake of the cup
and a toss of the dice–
whatever comes up,
you’ll just have to play it.

Translated by Juan Cole
from Whinfield 31 .

Posted by Juan at his blog Informed Comment. I'm enjoying immensely Juan's series of translations of Omar Khayyam.

JUAN COLE TRANSLATES OMAR KHAYYAM

OMAR KHAYYAM 15

As far as you can avoid it,
do not give grief to anyone.
Never inflict your rage
on another.
If you hope for eternal rest,
feel the pain yourself;
but don’t hurt others.

trans. Juan Cole
from Whinfield 15

Juan has posted a series of wonderful translations of Omar Khayyam's lovely peotry.

You may also consider reading his blog regularly for a dose of sanity on the situation in the Middle East, as an antidote to the scary, overblown rhetoric that is common in the media...not that the situation isn't scary, but, at the moment, I'm more afraid of what Israel or the countries in the West might do than I am of Iran.