SNOWDROP

                                          Hello, Spring!

A friend has mentioned that her father used to quote Omar Khayyam often. What a treat! It is also a treat how he is able to fit in Spring, Moses and Jesus in one verse. Was he a Zoroastrian? Was he a Moslem? I know he did much work in algebra, which should be a reason for me to hate him as they had to burn the school to get me out of algebra I. Any comments?

O love, how green the world, how blue the sky!
And we are living --- living --- you and I!
Ah, when the sun shines and our love is near,
'Tis good to live, and very hard to die.

For spring is here, with all his ancient fires,

Quick with old dreams, and thrilled with new desires,

Vowed to repent, yet sure to sin again --

O leave repentance to your withered sires!

O listen, love, how all the builders sing!

O sap! O song! O green world blossoming!

White as the hand of Moses blooms the thorn,

Sweet as the breath of Jesus comes the spring.

Spring, with the cuckoo-sob deep in his throat,

O'er all the land his thrilling whispers float,

Old earth believes his ancient lies once more,

And runs to meet him in a golden coat.

Omar Khayyam - XI century