Born in Ma'arah, Syria (near Alepp), Abu al-'Ala' Ma'arri (973-1058) became blind as a youth and relied in his writing on memory and sound. As the following examples demonstrate, his poetry and prose are known for his pessimistic and ascetic style, beliefs that were controversial from an Islamic standpoint.

III
Vain are your dreams of marvelous empire,
Vainly you sail among uncharted spaces,
Vainly seek harbor in this world of faces
If it has been determined otherwise.

V
You that must travel with a weary load
Along this darkling, labyrinthine street—
Have men with torches at your head and feet
If you would pass the dangers of the road.

XI
Myself did linger by the ragged beach,
Whereat wave after wave did rise and curl;
And as they fell," they fell—I saw them hurl
A message far more eloquent than...