Lament for Ariana

The English version of my poem "Lamento por Ariana".

What will you do, Ariana? For I must leave you…
Who will protect you when the ones I chased from your nest
Return roaring,
Coming to trample you with their loathing?

Who will take your hand to guide you in your paths?
Will it be the Students, as the Pharisees of old,
Vipers, ignoring
The spirit of your Holy Prophet?

Rebellious Talib!
Who told you that your pitiless books
Are greater than the suffering of your untarnished infants?
Care you not that the laws are deaf to the cries of your children?

Who gave you to think that all women
Because of their beauty should stay hidden,
Meek and submissive, walking three steps behind you
So as not to vex your dominion?

Little child!
Will you grow strong in wisdom and knowledge so fair,
[COLOR=green]Or will you follow the ruts of your hard-minded fathers,[/COLOR]
[FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=green]Numbing your conscience with endless repetitive prayers?[/COLOR][/FONT]

[SIZE=2][COLOR=green][B]Cry, Ariana![/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B][SIZE=2][FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=green]Your Father is listening: beseech the heavens to enlighten and bless you,[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=Palatino Linotype][/font][/B][FONT=Palatino Linotype]
[B][SIZE=2][FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=green]That you may gain your letters -raise your voice to the world-[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=Palatino Linotype][/font][/B][FONT=Palatino Linotype]
[B][SIZE=2][FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=green]Denouncing your anguish to silence the swords that oppress you.[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=Palatino Linotype][/font][/B][FONT=Palatino Linotype]

[FONT=Palatino Linotype][SIZE=2][COLOR=green][B]Shout, my children![/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B][SIZE=2][FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=green]May your fathers raise you up from the ashes of the ages.[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=Palatino Linotype][/font][/B][FONT=Palatino Linotype]
[B][SIZE=2][FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=green]Be not sullied by blind tradition’s hate[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=Palatino Linotype][/font][/B][FONT=Palatino Linotype]
[B][SIZE=2][FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=green]And be strong in your faith to thereby in truth become great.[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=Palatino Linotype][/font][/B][FONT=Palatino Linotype]

[FONT=Palatino Linotype][SIZE=2][COLOR=green][B]What will you do, my child, to calm your weeping?[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B][SIZE=2][FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=green]Who will see your woman’s face when you’ve grown?[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=Palatino Linotype][/font][/B][FONT=Palatino Linotype]
[B][SIZE=2][FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=green]Who will bear you up when you awake from your sleeping?[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=Palatino Linotype][/font][/B][FONT=Palatino Linotype]
[B][SIZE=2][FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=green]Good bye, my darling, Ariana, I must go…[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=Palatino Linotype][/font][/B][FONT=Palatino Linotype]

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