translated from the Arabic by Ameen Rihani
Arise! for lo! the Laughter and the Weeping
Reveal the Weapon which the Master’s Keeping
Above your heads; Oh! take it up and strike!
The lion of tyranny is only sleeping.
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.