I No Longer Steal From Nature,’ by Al-Ma’arri
You are diseased in understanding and religion.
Come to me, that you may hear something of sound truth.
Do not unjustly eat fish the water has given up,
And do not desire as food the flesh of slaughtered animals,
Or the white milk of mothers who intended its pure draught
for their young, not noble ladies.
And do not grieve the unsuspecting birds by taking eggs;
for injustice is the worst of crimes.
And spare the honey which the bees get industriously
from the flowers of fragrant plants;
For they did not store it that it might belong to others,
Nor did they gather it for bounty and gifts.
I washed my hands of all this; and wish that I
Perceived my way before my hair went gray!
About Abu al-Ala al-Ma’arri (973 AD-1057, Syria):
Classical Arabic-language poet, blind, and well-known for composition of qasidah (panegyric) and ghazal (lyric) forms of poetry. Works include citations from the broad expanse of Arabic literature. His greatest collection of poetry is Luzumiyyat, named for self-imposed requirements in meter and rhyme. Al-Maari condemned the injustice and hypocrisy of rulers, ordinary citizens, and religious scholars alike. He regarded life as misfortune due to the extent of human shortcomings apparent in the world. Ridiculing formal religious dogmas, he claimed that the only truly religious people were those who helped their fellow human beings, regardless of what they believed privately.
(Source: Oxford Reference)
Tazkeen nikharast, tahzeen mikarast/ Not just read and forget, but also ruminate