The Luzumiyat of Abu’l-Ala, XLVI

translated from the Arabic by Ameen Rihani

And why so much ado, and wherefore lay
The burden of the years upon the day
      Of thy vain dreams?   Who polishes his sword
Morning and eve will polish it away.

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