Poetry

It's amazingly funny that there's a time when you don't like something then after a while you have a sudden interest in it? well, that's exactly what happened to me. I had a sudden interest in Arabic poetry. I've never really liked it cause it was really complicated and difficult to understand (the Pre-Islamic poetry) besides I had some troubles with memorizing poems due to my shitty memory. That's why I never paid attention to it during the class but not until this year when I entered the 10th grade. I decided to give it a shot and I ended up liking it.

While I was browsing through random pages I found some of selections of translated poems by one of my favorite Arab poets: Al-Mutanabbi. I couldn't find a whole translated poem I only found some verses. hope you enjoy:

"A young soul in my aging body plays, Though time’s sharp blades my weary visage raze.
Hard biter in a toothless mouth is she, The will may wane, but she a winner stays."

"Spare me to win glory’s forbidden prize. Glory in hardship, sloth in comfort lies.
Eminence is not with cheap comfort bought, Hear the honey gatherers bee-stung cries."

"No indolent dreaming dawdler am I, Nor am content, while riches I descry.
Life’s heaving tides of woe shall spare me not, Unless I, its unblocked courses defy."

"Softly do town girls their faces adorn, But Bedu are from garish colors shorn.
Town beauty is with pampered softness sought, The Bedu are with unsought beauty born."

"Grave harm have lovers to themselves done, Loving, ere understanding life begun,
They, with withered and wasted souls, After vile, though pretty-faced creatures run."

"Beautiful women, as experienced men know, Are but darkness wrapped in dazzling light aglow.
A life of frivolous youth and worried age, Its futile course to futile death will flow."

"Defiantly live, or in honor die, Midst slashing blades and banners flapping high.
Rage is best dispatched by lances’ points, and Spearing spiteful chests shall their spite deny."

"A charger’s saddle is an exalted throne, The best companions are books alone.
Without hardship everyone would prevail, The generous are poor, and courage kills its own."

"Though a noble lady and highly born, ‘Tis your unfeminine wisdom we mourn.
True spirit/wine is from softer self distilled, As potent wine from sweeter grapes is drawn."

and that's it.
peace : )