1. Jaʿfar seized the head of the caravan,

    then called out, “Begin with destruction!”

  2. The emir’s mother answered and said,

    “We have come to you as the first visitors.”

  3. And Ṣāʿid will come to you before long,

    his letters telling of destruction in Uskudār.

  4. O Father of Dung, the people were bound to gratitude,

    and he earned prayers in the hours before dawn.

  5. May my father ransom your sword, which dispels doubt

    and clears dimness from the eyes.

  6. Show it to me cleaving forearms and heads,

    and being given flowing blood to drink.

  7. Give me some of it to drink; perhaps I may quench

    some of this burning thirst with al-Hārithī’s blood.

  8. Let not full coats of mail and helmets frighten you,

    for beneath them are the hearts of maidens.

  9. And whenever they meet you with cavalry, know

    that the horses are provision for the day of flight.

  10. I am ʿAbd Allāh al-Ṣaffār, if

    God relieves the hearts’ cares through al-Ṣaffār.

Sol 6.1