Omar Khayyám

Quotes

1. Perplext no more with Human or Divine,

   To-morrow's tangle to the winds resign,

   And lose your fingers in the tresses of

   The Cypress — slender Minister of Wine.

2. 

   The Ball no Question makes of Ayes and Noes,

   But Right or Left as strikes the Player goes;

   And He that toss'd Thee down into the Field,

   He knows about it all — knows — HE knows!

3. 

   But helpless Pieces of the Game He plays

   Upon this Chequer-board of Nights and Days;

   Hither and thither moves, and checks, and slays,

   And one by one back in the Closet lays.

4. 

   Then of the works behind

   The Veil, I lifted up my hands to find

   A Lamp amid the Darkness; and I heard,

   As from Without — "!"

5. 

   Would you that spangle of Existence spend

   About the Secret — Quick about it, Friend!

   A Hair perhaps divides the False and True —

   And upon what, prithee, may life depend?

6. 

   The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,

   Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit

   Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,

   Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.

7. 

   And that inverted Bowl we call The Sky,

   Whereunder crawling coop't we live and die,

   Lift not thy hands to It for help — for It

   Rolls impotently on as Thou or I.

8. 

   I must abjure the Balm of Life, I must,

   Scared by some After-reckoning ta'en on trust,

   Or lured with Hope of some Diviner Drink,

   To fill the Cup — when crumbled into Dust!

9. 

   But if in vain, down on the stubborn floor

   Of Earth, and up to Heav'n's unopening Door

   You gaze To-day, while You are You — how then

   To-morrow, You when shall be You no more?

10. 

    Why, all the Saints and Sages who discuss'd

    Of the Two Worlds so learnedly — are thrust

    Like foolish Prophets forth; their Words to Scorn

    Are scatter'd, and their Mouths are stopt with Dust.

11. 

    But come with old Khayyám, and leave the Lot

    Of Kaikobád and Kaikhosrú forgot:

    Let Rustum lay about him as he will,

    Or Hátim Tai cry Supper — heed them not.

12. 

    And, as the Cock crew, those who stood before

    The Tavern shouted — "Open then the Door!

    You know how little while we have to stay,

    And, once departed, may return no more."