The Mind

Fan thou a lisping fire and it will leap

by Abu al-Ala al-Ma'arri 973–1057

Translated by Ameen Rihani (1918) · From The Luzumiyat of Abu'l-Ala (1918)

The Mind

Fan thou a lisping fire and it will leap
In flames, but dost thou fan an ashy heap?
They would respond, indeed, whom thou dost call,
Were they not dead, alas! or dead asleep.

MLA

al-Ma'arri, Abu al-Ala. “Fan thou a lisping fire and it will leap.” Translated by Ameen Rihani. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/al-maarri/108/.

Chicago

al-Ma'arri, Abu al-Ala. “Fan thou a lisping fire and it will leap.” Translated by Ameen Rihani. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/al-maarri/108/.

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