translated from the Arabic by Ameen Rihani
Sooth I have told the masters of the mart
Of rusty creeds and Babylonian art
Of magic. Now the truth about myself—
Here is the secret of my wincing heart.
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.