I sent my Soul through the Invisible

I sent my Soul through the Invisible, 

Some letter of that After-life to spell;

And by and by my Soul returned to me,

And answered, “I Myself am Heaven and Hell”

Heaven but the Vision of fulfilled Desire,

And Hell the Shadow from a Soul on fire

Oh threats of Hell and Hopes of Paradise! 

One thing at least is certain - This Life flies;

One thing is certain and the rest is Lies 

The Flower that once has blown forever dies.

Strange, is it not? that of the myriads who 

Before us passed the door of Darkness through,

Not one returns to tell us of the Road,

Which to discover we must travel too.

Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam (1050-1122)

Image courtesy: Alizee