The Mind

And what avails it then that Man be born

by Abu al-Ala al-Ma'arri 973–1057

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

The Mind

And what avails it then that Man be born
To joy or sorrow?--why rejoice or mourn?
The doling doves are calling to the rose;
The dying rose is bleeding o'er the thorn.

MLA

al-Ma'arri, Abu al-Ala. “And what avails it then that Man be born.” Translated by Ameen Rihani. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/al-maarri/11/.

Chicago

al-Ma'arri, Abu al-Ala. “And what avails it then that Man be born.” Translated by Ameen Rihani. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/al-maarri/11/.

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