1. My aged mother, her strength undiminished
Like an armor against adversity's assault

2. Her cheeks sunken, and who sees her would say
I've seen a ghoul or mirage in the desert sand

3. I've left her and her son naught of wealth
Save a maiden camel and five bleating ewes

4. To sustain them when their udder milk runs dry
And some camels returning at dusk from the range

5. They sent me a letter sealed tight
As if plastered over with a scorpion's clay

6. I knew their plight was pressing and dire
So I cracked it open like an old shoe's tongue

7. And found a shriveled serpent on the page
Who warned and hissed that they were famished

8. Complaining hunger had claimed some of their kin
Asking: "Will you not aid your starving clansmen?"

9. They begged nothing but a cloudburst's shower
To pour from your clouds, soaked with generosity

10. O you who rain goodness, son of the generous!
Scion of nobles, pillar of every great tribe!

11. You Abbassids, whose origin is known to be
The steeds who always raced at dawn's first light

12. God's cavalry, raiders emerging
From swirling clouds of dust raised by their charge