Thursday, December 19, 2013

A Change of Heart

A prayer attributed to Ibn Sīnā
   [Arabic, 11th century]

I seek refuge in You, my God. 
   I forsake the trivial seduction of the world, 
necklace of a narrow life. 

I now return to You, accept my return, 
   and change in me this heart 
which has for so long turned away from You. 

If You do not restore my ailing soul, 
   or heal it from its blindness, 
to whom but You would I raise my complaint? 

[my translation]

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