The Mind

But whether of dust or fire or foam, the glaive

by Abu al-Ala al-Ma'arri 973–1057

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

The Mind

But whether of dust or fire or foam, the glaive
Of Allah cleaves the planet and the wave
Of this mysterious Heaven-Sea of life,
And lo! we have the Cradle of the Grave.

MLA

al-Ma'arri, Abu al-Ala. “But whether of dust or fire or foam, the glaive.” Translated by Ameen Rihani. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/al-maarri/8/.

Chicago

al-Ma'arri, Abu al-Ala. “But whether of dust or fire or foam, the glaive.” Translated by Ameen Rihani. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/al-maarri/8/.

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