The Luzumiyat of Abu’l-Ala, CV

translated from the Arabic by Ameen Rihani

Now, at this end of Adam’s line I stand
Holding my father’s life-curse in my hand,
       Doing no one the wrong that he did me:—
Ah, would that he were barren as the sand!

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.