1. My neighbor was astonished when she saw me
Like a captive doe nursing my wounds

2. As if you've never seen a prisoner before
Led on a camel, writhing in agony

3. On the tracks of red camels and raiding parties
Divided among greedy, rapacious thieves

4. When they brought me down, I was free
Fighting them at the bend of the wing

5. The men took turns bringing me down
From the impudent, decked-out horse

6. When my tribe grew large and absent
I was captured, bound in shackles

7. They saw me alone, so they warned me
And their threats did not make me blink

8. I had frightened them, once on horses
Charging amidst the sandstorms like ghosts

9. Just as their sandstorms intensified
They came at us like violent thunder

10. Had I gathered their drinking cups
On a meadow, its pastor a hawk

11. Those who came at me would not recognize me
As I overflowed at them, weapons in hand

12. It was as if their army swarmed around me
Plunging into the sea's deep darkness

13. And my warriors vanished, leaving me alone
Battling them, swooping with my wings

14. So I do not know, though I suspect
Will the innocent ones make peace with me?

15. Lest the wine-drinkers kill me in confusion
And I become one of the winds' dead

16. I expect the penitents will occupy you
Coming to you at dawn with the departing souls

17. The dove will sing to you each dawn
On the hillocks at first light

18. When you leave a regretful one at night
Promising to meet him at dawn

19. If your brother disappears from you
He will choke with thirst like hot embers

20. If you were the captive, do not hide it
I would visit them in great distress

21. If they do not release any captive among you
Then ride the horses south of the meadows

22. Let no mercy for us hold you back
For some loss paves the way for success

23. Loss after loss will heal
The fiery pain of the wounded