Omar Khayyám

Quotes

1. Think, in this batter'd Caravanserai

   Whose Portals are alternate Night and Day,

   How Sultan after Sultan with his Pomp

   Abode his destined Hour, and went his way.

2. 

   Lo! some we loved, the loveliest and the best

   That Time and Fate of all their Vintage prest,

   Have drunk their Cup a Round or two before,

   And one by one crept silently to Rest.

3. 

   That sallow cheek of hers to' incarnadine.

4. 

   Dreaming when Dawn's Left Hand was in the Sky

   I heard a Voice within the Tavern cry,

   "Awake, my Little ones, and fill the Cup

   Before Life's Liquor in its Cup be dry."

5. 

   But still a Ruby kindles in the Vine,

   And many a Garden by the Water blows.

6. 

   Wake! For the Sun, who scatter'd into flight

   The Stars before him from the Field of Night,

   Drives Night along with them from Heav'n, and strikes

   The Sultan's Turret with a Shaft of Light.

7. 

   The Worldly Hope men set their Hearts upon

   Turns Ashes — or it prospers; and anon,

   Like Snow upon the Desert's dusty Face

   Lighting a little Hour or two — is gone.

8. 

   And look — a thousand Blossoms with the Day

   Woke — and a thousand scatter'd into Clay.

9. 

   For some we loved, the loveliest and the best

   That from his Vintage rolling Time hath prest.

10. 

    Some for the Glories of This World; and some

    Sigh for the Prophet's Paradise to come;

    Ah, take the Cash, and let the Credit go,

    Nor heed the rumble of a distant Drum!

11. 

    I sometimes think that never blows so red

    The Rose as where some buried Caesar bled;

    That every Hyacinth the Garden wears

    Dropt in her Lap from some once lovely Head.

12. 

    Awake! for Morning in the Bowl of Night

    Has flung the Stone that puts the Stars to Flight:

    And Lo! the Hunter of the East has caught

    The Sultan's Turret in a Noose of Light.