Translations

Clothed in the Water

by Ulayya bint al-Mahdī
Translated from Arabic by Will Pewit

Arabic

أَلْبِسِ الماءَ المداما وآسقني حتّى أناما
وأَفِضْ جودك في الناسِ تكنْ فيهم إماما
لعنَ اللهُ أخا البخـ لِ وإن صلّى وصاما

Abbasid poet Ulayya bint al-Mahdī was, as her name alludes, daughter of the caliph al-Mahdī, but was also sister to Harun al-Rashid, whose legend features prominently in the 1,001 Nights. In addition to her talent in verse, she was also acclaimed for her musical gifts.

FROM Volume 70, Number 1

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