The Luzumiyat of Abu’l-Ala, XXXVII

translated from the Arabic by Ameen Rihani

Ah, many have I seen of those who fell
While drawing, with a swagger, from the Well;
      They came with Rope and Bucket, and they went
Empty of hand another tale to tell.

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