Sol 6.1

  1. And O gleam of rain-cloud lightning, if she unveils

    her front teeth, lower your gaze and hide.

  2. And O brevity of eloquent speech, you have indeed

    grown prolix in describing that waist; be brief.

  3. Here is al-Ubayriq in her mouth—O my thirst

    for the 'Udhayb of the fragrant smile's 'Aqiq!

  4. And there al-Ghuwayr appears within the sash—oh,

    my longing for it! And here is al-Jiz' within the waistwraps.

  5. My heart's blood for the fire of beauty above her lips,

    blazing around that verdant sight.

  6. She passed us, displaying her eyebrow's nun-shaped curve,

    while her temple-lock kissed her rose of bashfulness.

  7. The bow then nocked the eye's arrows—alas, my sorrow!

    And the Scorpion approached Mars—alas, my fear!

  8. She spoke to us, and we fancied that there had smiled

    bright stars, just then, in the mouth of the moon.

  9. Indeed, by the two crystals of a dawn veiled in

    the two rubies of a twilight parting to reveal pearls!

  10. Before you, I never imagined that death could appear in

    the guise of eyes belonging to white and tawny gazelles.

  11. But for your smile, eyes would not have streamed with blood;

    nor would rain clouds have wept rain, but for lightning.

  12. Were union with you sold to the captive for his heart's blood,

    he would count it cheap—and who will give the blind sight?

  13. I exhausted my eyes' water, weeping at your rejection;

    and summer's ember exhausts the deep water of the pools.

  14. How strange that your heart is empty of passion's fire,

    when fire's hiding place remains forever in stone!

  15. Do not despise a mark on me that appeared amid ordeals;

    the keen Indian sword's beauty lies in its markings.

  16. Nor scorn gray hair's whiteness, should there be kindled

    its candles in the night-blackness of my hair.

  17. For a man is like embers: when they die down, there is seen

    their blackness, while their light appears when they blaze.

  18. How splendid the nights that passed in the sanctuary,

    white upon time's brows, like white forehead-blazes!

  19. And how often, in gardens of bliss, we sought by night

    the radiance of two fires—one of embers, one of drops—

  20. and a moon of the secluded chamber, girdled in night's likeness,

    veiled in dawn's radiance, his head wrapped.

  21. May the night of his temple-locks never dawn, so long as rises

    the sun of wine in the evenings and early mornings.

  22. Nor may kisses pass that moon by, so long as cast

    the hands of Ibn Mansur purses of coin to petitioners.

  23. The pupil of glory's eye, the adornment of her wrist,

    the whiteness of bounty's clear brow, the smile of modesty,

  24. death's arrow, kingship's armor and its shield,

    the point of the nights' spear, fate's keen sword:

  25. an enthroned ruler who governed his subjects' affairs in

    justice that reconciles lions and cattle.

  26. If bees tasted the pasture of his vengeance's lash,

    their flowing honey would be spat out mixed with bitter aloe.

  27. If his downpour enriched the wide-eyed oryx, there would grow

    pure silk upon their skins, not coarse hair.

  28. He has mountains of forbearance; if their lofty peaks

    settled on the seven celestial spheres, those spheres would not turn.

  29. A champion who, with white blades as raptors, hunted from

    the highest boughs of lofty spears the bird of victory.

  30. O band of pilgrims, here is his palm's deep sea;

    make for the sea, and you will have no need of the Stone.

  31. And O suns of the fierce warriors, should there rise

    his stars in the darkness of battle dust, grow dim!

  32. He appeared to us, and within his essence there appeared—

    unique as it is—the noble in a gathering beyond count.

  33. Thus in forbearance he was like a mirror when viewed:

    counted as one, with all the images within it.

  34. Creation's unmatched one, time's pair and its totality,

    the sum of glory, the twofold source of benefit and harm.

  35. For war's blade-tongues sing his praise,

    and death bends its flank toward him like one obeying orders.

  36. If Noah's flood had poured from his hand's bounty,

    he would not have escaped it with planks and nails.

  37. Or had King Shaddad witnessed his majesty,

    terror of him would have rubbed an abased cheek in dust.

  38. Leave the tales of the past; the sight of him

    is stronger proof, for seeing a thing is not like hearing a report.

  39. So battle dust shone from it, and a twilight glow appeared

    of blood upon heads and forelocks.

  40. O one who strings glory, O necklace of virtues—nay,

    O ornament of praise—nay, O adornment of mankind!

  41. With your sword you made eight of the seven surging seas and the

    seven planets—nay, the seven mighty things.

  42. And you grew in sovereignty, in majesty and power,

    until you rose beyond limitation and measure.

  43. My lord, O the world's unmatched one and its master,

    and noble, beneficent one who puts every notable to shame,

  44. give ear to the plea of a slave in your bondage,

    who hopes, with you, to win the fulfillment of his wish.

  45. Cruel Time has indeed fled from your servant toward

    your gracious beneficence, O lord of might and eminence.

  46. For you, if the days betray me, are my mainstay;

    and you, if my wealth dwindles, are my best reserve.

Sol 6.1