From the Arabic
Why art thou so hushed and sad,
So thin and wan?
Who robbed thee of thy flesh and song,—
Was it Ramadhan?
Nay, Ramadhan is not to blame,
For I have ceased to fast and pray;
But to my vacant Dwelling came
An unknown Guest—he came to stay.
And in my heart he eats and drinks;
He drinks my blood, of wines the best,
And eats my burning flesh,—ah, yes,
My love for Zahra is that Guest.
From A Chant of Mystics (James T. White & Co., 1921) by Ameen Rihani. This poem is in the public domain.
Ameen Rihani
Ameen Fares Rihani, who is regarded as a founder of Arab American literature and a major figure in the Mahjar movement, was born in Freike, Lebanon, then part of the Ottoman Empire, on November 24, 1876. Rihani was one of six children and the eldest son born to a Lebanese Christian (Maronite) silk manufacturer. Rihani moved to New York City with one of his brothers in 1888 and began to learn English. Three years later, Rihani became an American citizen.