1. For my life, though time brought no lament for this doomed soul,
Nor grief for what befell and caused distress,

2. The days have shrouded their youth beneath their mantle,
One fairer than the softly nurtured nights in beauty dressed,

3. No pasturing camels will the women drive to his wedding feast
When the hoar-frost falls from the cold of winter's blast.

4. A noble soul who helped the wayfarer with generous hand,
Fertile he was if barren wastes spread far and wide.

5. You'd think his breast the glittering sword that quivers with the dew
If by some evil man he hoped for gain denied.

6. Yet, when an envier pressed you, you'd not find,
A helper stauncher to defend your name and rights.

7. At drinking bouts no wanton sot was he, who'd dip
His ladle in the bowl, foul dregs and troubled yeast.

8. When the ranks closed for battle, a brother in arms was he,
True in the field of strife, bold but never rash.

9. No laggard was he when the steeds plunged in,
Nor reckless, marring by his act the general plan.

10. No blind self-seeker, making his exploits
A topic when the foe appeared or kept behind the veil.

11. Then let my eyes now overflow with tears for Malik
When the winds gust and stir the tufted mountain-tops,

12. And blow north from the stony grounds of Ed-Dakhakhif,
Skirting the rain-clouds' hands that clash and split asunder,

13. Weep for Malik and for youth and strength cut short,
The day that tries men's souls and search out their intent,

14. A guest denied, his camel herd gone blind and stunned,
Crouching, worn out, the rope slid from their flanks and trailed along,

15. A widow walking with dishevelled mourning locks,
Like a sand grouse deprived of mate and chicks among.

16. When warriors drew the wine-cups and kindled for their sake
Fires of hospitality, no more to rest their heads.

17. If the wine was passed around, no man but wished Malik shared,
Guarding the meat from portioning till all were satisfied.

18. Impatient am I of maxims I hear and see,
Each cable but your own before my eyes is snapped.

19. A staunch assailant was he, charging to the fray,
Quick to respond if endangered lives implored his aid.

20. Whene'er I call your name, no answer do you give,
Worthy though you were to answer and attend.

21. You were my wings, when risen, you'd lift me high,
The wing drops feathers if its joints asunder rip.

22. In happiness we lived our life and met our destined fate.
A company like Kisra's and those after him of royal state,

23. We were like Jadhima's herds that kept together for a time
Till people said, no power can bid this kin apart.

24. But when we separated, Malik and I were like
Two friends, however close and long united from our birth

25. If days have come between us, then my brother showed his worth,
The day he turned away and took his last farewell.

26. A youth he was, of noble birth and noble too his soul,
Braver than the lion in his den secure.

27. I say, as white hairs fly about his head, and cheeks
Like watered valleys flow, by rains renewed.

28. May God water a land whose hollows are Malik's grave,
And send a torrent from the hill-tops to pour down.

29. Choosing the course where the two valleys meet at Dima,
Distilling heather-perfume and acacia's scented flowers.

30. There round the leagues of tomb-stones, in a narrow pass,
His theme inspires the mountains tuneful harmony.

31. No, not for love of it I watered this land, but because
Though far from me, my greetings rest upon his grave,

32. Where now the dust has settled over his violet dome.
Says the daughter of Omar: Why, when alive and well

33. Were you so gentle-souled and fair, and now are dead?
And I replied: My care since you have asked is long,

34. Grief's agony imprints the face and scores the flesh:
Mother of many sons am I, for whom I've wept,

35. Not for their loss rebellious, bowed in resignation bent.
Onward I pass, as one who meets the fate of war,

36. When heroes stagger and confused, fall back in disarray.
Custom has changed me, once it wore down Qais and Malik,

37. Omar and Jazza pierced by its infecting wounds.
It wore down the Nudmanis, Yazid, would I had sold

38. My family and wealth to ransom them entire!
Though I jested, sorrow has pierced me with such darts

39. As pierce the grieving heart and make it bleed.
If fate brings down calamity and harm on men,

40. I make no plaint to friends and kin who come to mourn.
Blaming me but to hear, do not twist the blade

41. To aggravate my heart's incurable distress.
For I have seen them go, nor could my hand defend

42. Against death's stroke or hold its hurried pace in check.
No joy is mine if once in fortune's lap I sat,

43. No grief if death struck down and caused grim pain.
Had it but struck the waverer, the coward soul,

44. Or Rakan's house in Selma, razing it to dust,
Three squadrons never would have borne their dead away,

45. Their wounds still bleeding, smeared with dust and gore,
Recalling in their griefs the loss of Malik, matching verse to verse,

46. The first one mourning, then the second answering through her tears,
As they drew near, arose and turned away again,

47. Weeping in pity for his grave and all around.
More tenderly than I, none mourned when Malik died,

48. Though the death-song sounded, none lent an ear.
Have no glad tidings come to cheer your abode, arousing

49. Angry grief in him whom loss of friends distress?
Does a malicious tongue rejoice that doom befell Malik?

50. He saw it happen but no aid afforded then?
Have you turned aside from the proud and lofty course,

51. And brought dejection, stepping with punctilious care?
Rejoice you never that I see death lower for all,

52. And none escapes, however bold and pressing forward then.
Perhaps a day will come when you lament some blow,

53. From those who once caressed you, now estranged.
You blamed a man who would have brought you in his grace

54. Shelter and aid, imparted or divided share.
Let not Malik's death cause joy to slanderers,

55. Misfortune's changes end: he turned away and left us lone.