1. To whom does the house belong, like a book's title,
That stirred longing and responded with answers?

2. The house increased you in nothing but confusion,
And youth is not akin to propriety.

3. A place for convening whatever is seen,
And ashes like kohl of eyes gone.

4. The torrent barred a valley's course,
Leaving lasting gashes like scratches of parchments.

5. A slave girl struck it with the crow of an axe in the earth's face,
Pushing back the torrent until it flowed

6. Among the pebbly, desolate plains and hilltops.
With what used to dwell in it-

7. People of livestock, horses, and tents,
And young girls beautifully pure

8. Whom old age cannot touch in their youthfulness.
So leave play to those who play with it

9. And saddle your riding camel, going away.
A female camel carried it, strong,

10. In a birth and vessel like a saddlebag
For a year until when she found her bearing

11. She laid it down after writhing and struggling.
A husk whose essence perfidy did not violate

12. Nor effort of gathering violate.
So it shed its pearls until there emerged

13. Lofty, rising above water-drawing pulleys.
A trunk the acacia is too short for,

14. Bristling like a stallion frothing at the mouth.
Then it bent while a fierce, unyielding

15. Colt startled by the buzzing of flies.
It remained six days within it

16. Crouching, equaling the heights of loftiest peaks
In the wilderness's emptiness until it led him,

17. Following the expert guide in conferral and pleading.
Rarely did it carry of his belongings

18. Other than tether, scraps, and waterskin.
It watches the person with the rear of its eye

19. After the litters' curtains have been drawn.
Good is the ringing of the caravan bells when

20. The driver is engulfed in mirage.
Like a wavering shadow, in its weakness

21. It relied on the calluses of a barefoot easterner crow.
Fasting, it breaks its slightest command

22. Having experienced the violence of servitude.
Does it water them from the spring of secrets or

23. Return the troop to the water-gatherer?
Then it lined them up-fettered in passion-

24. Addled in intoxications, flame-engulfed.