More 11th Century Persian Poetry

From the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (my punctuation)

The worldy hope men set their hearts upon
turns ashes -- or it prospers; and anon
Like snow upon the desert's dusty face,
(lighting a little hour or two) is gone.

Also, while you are at it: Reginald's Peace Poem

and

Some laud a life of mild content:
Content may fall, as well as Pride.
The Frog who hugged his lowly Ditch
Was much disgruntled when it dried.

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/ForDura.shtml
Not seeing the connection? H. H. Munro's columns, short stories, and poems were published under the pen name "Saki", who was the cupbearer in The Rubayat.