Heart

This is a song from the diwan "For Whom?", a collection of symbolist verse by Mr. Albert Adib, published by Dar al-Maaref in Egypt.

Weary am I, O my sister —
glory has wiped my brow,
and light has darkened my eyes.

From the flask of the self
I gave to my nation
as the wise give.

For I, when I give,
the tear freezes in the eyes of the generous.

... If my people say: what ails him?
and — your pardon — the ignorant of today ask,
the garden will say tomorrow:
his bountiful hand passed over us,
and there was the spring you see,
and there was the green plant.

... And this deaf mountain will speak:
from his heart my hard rocks drank their fill.

I — if I fear,
it is no fear of thirst, nor of raiment.

I have accustomed you, O my sister, to how I avert my gaze
even from the sky.

I — if I fear,
it is of my nation's ingratitude and the denial of fools.

I dread — what I dread tomorrow is this:
a boy who comes after me;
if duty calls him, I flit through his visions,
and he draws back and says:
denial has taught us — by my Lord —
to be misers.