The Eternal Saki

Listen to:

The Eternal Saki (1:05)

by Omar Khayyam

translated by Edward Fitzgerald 

performed by Bob Gonzalez, rhapsode

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, verses 44, 46-47

translated by Edward Fitzgerald

XLIV

    Why, if the Soul can fling the Dust aside,

    And naked on the Air of Heaven ride,

    Were't not a Shame--were't not a Shame for him

    In this clay carcase crippled to abide?

XLVI

    And fear not lest Existence closing your

    Account, and mine, should know the like no more;

    The Eternal Saki from that Bowl has pour'd

    Millions of Bubbles like us, and will pour.

    XLVII

    When You and I behind the Veil are past,

    Oh, but the long, long while the World shall last,

    Which of our Coming and Departure heeds

    As the Sea's self should heed a pebble-cast.

Angel of the Darker Drink

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Angel of the Darker Drink (:47)

by Omar Khayyam

translated by Edward Fitzgerald 

performed by Bob Gonzalez, rhapsode

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, verses 42-43

translated by Edward Fitzgerald

XLII

    And if the Wine you drink, the Lip you press

    End in what All begins and ends in--Yes;

    Think then you are To-day what Yesterday

    You were--To-morrow You shall not be less.

    XLIII

    So when that Angel of the darker Drink

    At last shall find you by the river-brink,

    And, offering his Cup, invite your Soul

    Forth to your Lips to quaff--you shall not shrink.

Like an Empty Cup

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Like an Empty Cup (:59)

by Omar Khayyam

translated by Edward Fitzgerald 

performed by Bob Gonzalez, rhapsode

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, verses 38-40

translated by Edward Fitzgerald

XXXVIII

    And has not such a Story from of Old

    Down Man's successive generations roll'd

    Of such a clod of saturated Earth

    Cast by the Maker into Human mould?

    XXXIX

    And not a drop that from our Cups we throw

    For Earth to drink of, but may steal below

    To quench the fire of Anguish in some Eye

    There hidden--far beneath, and long ago.

    XL

    As then the Tulip for her morning sup

    Of Heav'nly Vintage from the soil looks up,

    Do you devoutly do the like, till Heav'n

    To Earth invert you--like an empty Cup.

The Secret of My Life

Listen to:

The Secret of My Life (1:04)

by Omar Khayyam

translated by Edward Fitzgerald 

performed by Bob Gonzalez, rhapsode

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, verses 35-37

translated by Edward Fitzgerald

    XXXV

    Then to the lip of this poor earthen Urn

    I lean'd, the Secret of my Life to learn:

    And Lip to Lip it murmur'd--"While you live

    Drink!--for, once dead, you never shall return."

    XXXVI

    I think the Vessel, that with fugitive

    Articulation answer'd, once did live,

    And drink; and Ah! the passive Lip I kiss'd,

    How many Kisses might it take--and give!

    XXXVII

    For I remember stopping by the way

    To watch a Potter thumping his wet Clay:

    And with its all-obliterated Tongue

    It murmur'd--"Gently, Brother, gently, pray!"

Rubaiyat - Verses LXVI-LXIX

Listen to:

Rubaiyat - Verses LXVI-LXIX (1:13)

by Omar Khayyam 

translated by Edward Fitzgerald

performed by Bob Gonzalez, rhapsode

    LXVI

    I sent my Soul through the Invisible,

    Some letter of that After-life to spell:

    And by and by my Soul return'd to me,

    And answer'd "I Myself am Heav'n and Hell:"

    LXVII

    Heav'n but the Vision of fulfill'd Desire,

    And Hell the Shadow from a Soul on fire,

    Cast on the Darkness into which Ourselves,

    So late emerged from, shall so soon expire.

    LXVIII

    We are no other than a moving row

    Of Magic Shadow-shapes that come and go

    Round with the Sun-illumined Lantern held

    In Midnight by the Master of the Show;

    LXIX

    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.