The Mind
Quatrain 122
Translated by E. H. Whinfield (1883) · From The Quatrains (Whinfield)
The Mind
Gold breeds not wit, but to wit lacking bread
Earth's flowery carpet seems a dungeon bed;
'Tis his full purse that makes the rose to smile,
While empty-handed violets hang the head.
Cite this poem
MLA
Khayyam, Omar. “Quatrain 122.” Translated by E. H. Whinfield. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/omar-khayyam/121/.
Chicago
Khayyam, Omar. “Quatrain 122.” Translated by E. H. Whinfield. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/omar-khayyam/121/.
Read this poem with the Codex →