1. For whom is a house and an abode that has become desolate
By the Tigris River, the wailing deserted dwellings,

2. Whenever the rain moistens it, the violent winds
Converge upon its ruins.

3. It was erased by every strong, salty downpour
With an outpour like the mouths of lichen.

4. It spent the night crying, mournfully sleepless,
While the morning star was accused of blindness.

5. After that, it revealed a sky
As if its stars were salt crystals.

6. It watered a land where Suleima camped,
But did not water the maidens or the signboards.

7. It is delirious, with a sickly gaze
And entrails scattered by the wrap.

8. And youths, resolute as you are,
Lightweight, whether settled or traveling.

9. I sent them on a dreadful journey
And they did not bother to draw lots for it.

10. But they presented worn-out, pathetic steeds
Whose manes were mussed by the winds.

11. And every startled, frightened one found safety
In a carriage flown by four eagles.

12. It was as if, when they set out, we raised
A canopy atop the spearheads.

13. And they led every smoothly galloping cavalry
As if their leather was illuminated by the wind.

14. Leaving an impression on the earth’s face
Like the tracks of wild cats or grouse.

15. We endured the night journey until we saw
The black birds of night with clipped wings.

16. And the Pleiades appeared with their leader
As if their stars were the light of fires.

17. And enemies whose army I confronted
With foot soldiers quick on the day of clamor.

18. We were a band created noble
Who saw generosity as a mark of honor.

19. We left the wrongdoers be, and were not cowardly,
And came to draw lots fairly.

20. And we stormed them on disheveled steeds
Stirring up the sand in the desolate land.

21. And white horses that ravaged lives
And quenched both flanks’ thirst in battle.

22. And horsemen who saw killing as profit,
So they felt no remorse for it.

23. We saw them taking hold of every rugged terrain
With a torch lit by spears.

24. So they retreated, their crimes made them submit
To our blades at the opportune time.

25. We fulfilled their treachery, stabbing and mangling,
And striking like the mouths of lichen.

26. We blessed travels with the gift of horses
And bachelors with marriage.

27. And fire made kin with flames, the dead
Brandished, heralding victory.

28. I do not fear if I exert all my effort,
But I am wary of being stingy.

29. My knowledge distinguished me from the brothers,
So I remained with the wailing deserted dwellings.

30. I inhabited my dwellings with them for a time,
But how slight is purity next to corruption!

31. When my wealth was little, my praise was little,
And if I grew rich, they returned praising me.

32. How much blame is matched by praise
And fun mixed with seriousness!