The Luzumiyat of Abu’l-Ala, CI

translated from the Arabic by Ameen Rihani

The guiding hand of Allah I can see
Upon my staff: of what use then is he
       Who’d be the blind man’s guide? Thou silent oak,
No son of Eve shall walk with me and thee.

Credit

The Luzumiyat of Abu’l-Ala (James T. White & Co., 1920) by Abū al-‘Alā’ al-Ma‘arrī. Translated from the Arabic by Ameen Rihani. Copyright © 1920 by Ameen Rihani. This poem is in the public domain.