Selected Poems by Qurratu'l-'Ayn

Edited and translated by Amin Banani with Jascha Kessler

Look Up!

Look up! Our dawning day draws its first breath!
The world grows light! Our souls begin to glow!

No ranting shaykh rules from his pulpit throne.
No mosque hawks holiness it does not know.

No sham, no pious fraud, no priest commands!
The turban's knot cut to its root below!

No more conjurations! No spell! No ghosts!
Good riddance! We are done with folly's show!

The search of truth shall drive out ignorance.
Equality shall strike the despots low.

Let warring ways be banished from the world.
Let justice everywhere its carpet throw.

May friendship ancient hatred reconcile.
May love grow from the seed of love we sow!