1. O ruins of days gone by
Do you sense the morn, though your glory has passed?

2. Only the carefree and immortal sense the morn
Little troubled, not spending nights awake

3. Can one newly wed sense the morn
When still green, less than a year wed?

4. Salma’s abode, though blessed and led by the distinguished
Is ceaselessly hounded by every uncouth brigand

5. Salma yet believes she’ll forever see
Game of the wilds or eggs in the bird nests

6. Salma yet believes we’ll be forever as before
On valley’s floor or hilltop seeing the sun rise

7. Salma, your nights have made me a sapling
Erect, virile, never slumbering as dawn breaks

8. “You’ve grown old!” jested Bisbasah one day
“Frolicking does not become the likes of you!”

9. “You lie!” I protested. “Man’s virility
Stays as long as breath, lasting while blood flows!

10. By God, I’ve sported and caroused nights on end
With a beauty rivaling perfection’s artwork

11. A lamp, her face illuminates her lover’s bed
Like votives in a shrine, glowing through the dark

12. As embers on still lips after fevered kisses
Quenching passion’s thirst, glutting desire’s spark

13. The winds blew every which way ‘pon that morn
Zephyr, then north wind, gatekeepers switching posts

14. As a white-faced filly, playful when I rise,
Cheering me, never shying from my embrace

15. Shedding her clothes, pliant, cradled by her lover
Gentle, unabashed, tranquil in his arms

16. Like a docile camel allowing her young to tread her back
Trusting their steps be tender, gliding with care

17. Smooth of waist, of ample hips, yet no wanton,
Guileless, unfeigning, honest in her welcome

18. I glimpsed her from afar, the stars like lanterns
Of monks at night glowing for evensong prayers

19. After her folks had slept I climbed to her window
As dew drops climb from leaf to leaf after a fall

20. “God damn you, you’ll expose me!” she exclaimed
“Have you no eyes for the night guard or propriety?”

21. “By God, not even beheading would budge me from here!”
I vowed, though in truth, her honor I’d not mar

22. As we bickered my heart softened for her
And won over, the proud girl acquiesced with grace

23. I woke her husband, while she woke in my arms
Sour-faced, downcast, brooding with suspicion's disdain

24. Gripped by the mute rage of a wronged spouse
Determined to end me, though no blood I’d shed

25. To kill me, when my lover was his wife
When her kiss tasted like honey from the comb?

26. To kill me while unarmed, lacking spear or blade?
Truly, harming others was not in my nature

27. When I was drunk with passion for his wife
As a lovelorn man pining for his beloved

28. Salma knew though her husband fumed, I was but
A boasting youth who would never dare defile

29. What could he do if I recalled past trysts
With gazelles dancing through dunes in the moonlight?

30. With beauties circling in trance at a lush oasis?
Willowy as oryx does, buxom and bright

31. Following reckless passions heedless of reason’s voice
I turned from them to protect my good name

32. As if I’d never ridden for joy astride a steed
Or sweetly strummed a lyre to win a maiden’s heart

33. Never racing my mare, whip whistling loud as she charged
Never witnessing stallions, manes flowing, stampeding at dawn

34. Saliim's roan, dark-flanked, smoky-haired, small-eared doe
With prominent forehead and eyes clear as pools

35. Hard-mouthed, stout-hearted, steeled for the charge
Straddling the saddle without any fail

36. I set out while birds were still in their nests
Stirred by a drizzling rain, the ground darkening to black

37. Lances fencing him, menacing attack
Yet each wild-eyed fool was sent running back

38. Panicking them with my short-legged bay
Laced with scars, flesh gouged to the bone

39. I startled a flock, sleek and swift
Black-spotted, white-faced, elegant and thin

40. I ran like gazelle fleeing hyena
My steed straining, hooves kicking up sand

41. As if borne on wings, an eagle swooping
Talons splayed to clutch prey in its grip

42. I snatched partridges at dawn from their nests
As lynxes helplessly yowled their dismay

43. In their dens dove and quail, plump and lean alike
Trembled in fear at this sudden affray

44. If my needs were few, I could live peaceably
Not desiring riches or luxury’s display

45. But I strive for glory that will not fade or decay
And glory is still within reach for one such as I

46. A man is still a man while his soul remains proud
Undaunted by fate and refusing to bend or comply!