1. Does the Lord of the High imprison me, though just?
And if my rest is cut short, it is surely made brief.

2. How strange is the sun unleashed at dawn,
And the darkness folded, as the moon waxes and wanes!

3. I have never agreed with the ascetics, not for an hour.
I say to him, in words, “Your religion is more austere.”

4. I do not mean by this the austerity of strong conviction -
I mean the austerity of speech that is twisted and spun.

5. I have often judged the transmitters of tradition more sinful
Than what their texts enjoined, whether poet or fabricator.

6. And I know that the son of the teacher is joking
With his friends, while al-Baqillani is more jesting.

7. How many a fallible jurist strays in his error,
Yet his authority for it is the revealed text!

8. And your Koran-reciters seek riches by their melodious chanting,
So they chirp as they sing, to gain silver pieces and gold.

9. They see eternal youth as a magic potion, and rasping throats as the height of musical sound,
While snarling at songstresses’ singing, though the wolf howls more sweetly!

10. Why, then, does no doom fall upon you from above, to annihilate you,
And why does no earth gape open beneath you and swallow you down?

11. So offer your prayers, keep the fast, and cease fruitless disputes,
For every ruler is soon deposed by the blows of events.

12. No weapon has turned back from the house of Simak,
Nor has death desisted, though they said, “Turn aside!”

13. Is your sword a sword, or your spearhead a paring-knife?
Is your lance a lance, or your cane-shaft a spindle?