6 Mordad 1405
Quatrain 48 of 75
“While the Rose blows along the River Brink,
With old Khayyam the Ruby Vintage drink:
And when the Angel with his darker Draught
Draws up to thee—take that, and do not shrink.”
Reflection · Summer 1405
In summer the rose blows along a different river — the summer river, lower and warmer. The Ruby Vintage is the summer wine, full and warm, heavy with what the season has been. With old Khayyam — he is still here, still drinking, still noting the exact quality of the summer rose and the summer vintage. His equanimity is a model. He has agreed to take the darker draught when it comes. This frees him to be fully present with the ruby one.
Do not shrink — in summer this is about the fullness of the drinking. Don't hold back from the ruby vintage, don't protect yourself from the beauty by maintaining ironic distance.