translated from the Arabic by Ameen Rihani
Religion is a maiden veiled in prayer,
Whose bridal gifts and dowry those who car
Can buy in Mutakallem’s shop of words
But I for such, a dirham can not spare.
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.