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

Listen to:

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

Listen to:

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!"

Happy the Man

Listen to:

Happy the Man (:33)

by Horace (translation by John Dryden)

performed by Bob Gonzalez, rhapsode

Book III of Odes

Ode 29, section 8

 Happy the man, and happy he alone,

 He who can call today his own:

 He who, secure within, can say,

 Tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today.

 Be fair or foul or rain or shine

 The joys I have possessed, in spite of fate, are mine.

 Not Heaven itself upon the past has power,

 But what has been, has been, and I have had my hour.

Rubai (Quatrains) from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

Listen to:

Rubai from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

performed by Bob Gonzalez, rhapsode

 Come, fill the Cup, and in the fire of Spring

 Your Winter garment of Repentance fling:

   The Bird of Time has but a little way

 To flutter--and the Bird is on the Wing.

 Whether at Naishapur or Babylon,

 Whether the Cup with sweet or bitter run,

   The Wine of Life keeps oozing drop by drop,

 The Leaves of Life keep falling one by one.

Ah, my Belovéd, fill the Cup that clears

Today of past Regrets and future Fears:

    Tomorrow!--Why, Tomorrow I may be

Myself with Yesterday's Sev'n thousand Years.

 Yesterday This Day's Madness did prepare;

Tomorrow’s Silence, Triumph, or Despair:

   Drink! for you not know whence you came, nor why:

 Drink! for you know not why you go, nor where.