The Luzumiyat of Abu’l-Ala, XLV

translated from the Arabic by Ameen Rihani

Apply thy wit, O Brother, here and there
Upon this and upon that; but beware
       Lest in the end—ah, better at the start
Go to the Tinker for a slight repair.

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.

Translators
Ameen Rihani
1876 –
1940