Rubaiyat Readings

Dulac

ABC WEDNESDAY

Letter "R".

RUBAIYAT READINGS

THE ORIGINAL

For some we loved, the loveliest and the best

That from his Vintage rolling Time hath prest,

Have drunk their Cup a Round or two before,

And one by one crept silently to rest.

*

And we, that now make merry in the Room

They left, and Summer dresses in new bloom

Ourselves must we beneath the Couch of Earth

Descend--ourselves to make a Couch--for whom?

*

Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend,

Before we too into the Dust descend;

Dust into Dust, and under Dust to lie

Sans Wine, sans Song, sans Singer, and--sans End!

*

Alike for those who for To-day prepare,

And those that after some To-morrow stare,

A Muezzin from the Tower of Darkness cries

"Fools! Your Reward is neither Here nor There.

*
And when like her, oh, Saki, you shall pass
Among the Guests Star-scatter'd on the Grass,
And in your joyous errand reach the spot
Where I made One--turn down an empty Glass!"

Omar Khayyám from His Rubáiyát

The Comment

So Omar wrote! So were his words translated!

Some of the loveliest words, I think, created.

Maybe depressing, in a mournful way,

And yet with sweet emotions permeated.

*

When I was young 'The Rubaiyat', I said,

Answered the questions streaming through my head.

In other tomes I read of life immortal,

But this work showed me where my living led.

*

My copy is now threadbare, old and worn;

I see some pages are becoming torn,

But still that tiny book reveals to me

That we are dying from the day we're born.

*

'Nothingness'.....What a very soothing thought;

So much more hopeful than the other sort.

'Life everlasting' hasn't the appeal,

When I'm considering the last resort.

*

Omar Khayyam has given me the key

To cope with what most certainly will be.

So long as someone's 'turning down a glass'

I'll raise one to no longer being me.
Brenda Bryant from Her Blog!

*

A more lighthearted look at the Grim Reaper here:

http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2008/06/22-in-mumorium.html