Sol 6.1

  1. فَكَم مِن كاعِبٍ حَوراءَ رُودٍ

    أَلُوفِ السِترِ وَاضِحَةِ التَراقي

    And how many a budding-breasted maiden, dark-eyed and tender,

    fond of seclusion, with gleaming collarbones,

  2. بَكَت جَزَعاً وَقَد سُمِرَت كُبُولي

    وَجامِعَةٌ يُشَدُّ بِها خِناقي

    wept in anguish while my fetters were nailed fast,

    and a neck-shackle was tightened about my throat,

  3. عَلى سَوداءَ مُشرِفَةٍ بِسُوقٍ

    بَناها القَمحُ مُزلَقَةِ المَراقي

    upon a black platform towering in a marketplace,

    built by al-Qamh, with slippery steps.

  4. عَلَيَّ عَباءَةٌ بَرقاءُ لَيسَت

    مِن البَلوى تُغَطّى نِصفَ ساقي

    Upon me was a black-and-white cloak that did not,

    in my misery, cover half my shin.

  5. كَأَنَّ عَلى الخُدُودِ وَهُنَّ شُعثٌ

    سِجالَ الماءِ يُبعَثُ في السَواقي

    As though upon their cheeks, while they were disheveled,

    bucketfuls of water were sent flowing through irrigation channels.

  6. فَقُلتُ تَجَلُّداً وَحَلَفتُ صَبراً

    أُبالي اليَومَ لَو دَمَعَت مَآقي

    Then I said, steeling myself, and swore steadfastly:

    Would I care today if my eyes shed tears?

  7. سَيَنصُرُني الخَلِيفَةُ بَعدَ رَبّي

    وَيُخبَرُ حَيثُ يُمسي عَن مَساقي

    The caliph will aid me, after my Lord,

    and, wherever evening finds him, be told how I was driven away.

  8. فَتَغضَبُ لي بِأَجمَعِها قُصَيٌّ

    قَطِينُ البَيتِ وَالدُمثِ الرِقاقِ

    Then all of Qusay will be angered on my behalf—

    dwellers by the House and on the soft, fine sands,

  9. بِمُعتَلَجِ السُيُولِ إِذا تَبَنّى

    لِئامُ الناسِ في الشُعَبِ العِماقِ

    where the torrents meet, while homes are built

    by the ignoble among men in the deep ravines—

  10. لِأَقرَبِها إِذا نُسِبُوا لِخَيرٍ

    وَأَوراها إِذا اِنتُقى المُناقي

    for its closest kinsman, when descent is traced to a noble man,

    and its brightest spark, when the chooser makes his choice.