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: