Sol 5.6

  1. And may it never cease to climb the stations of glory,

    while full moons long to dwell within those mansions.

  2. It confronts the calamities of Time when their gravity turns grave,

    with an earnest one’s resolve against the purpose of a trifler.

  3. With glory that turns the star back, no longer rising,

    and bounty that turns the rain back, no longer falling;

  4. a Simāk-star of pride, yet never called “the Unarmed,”

    his governorship need fear no one who would depose him.

  5. I say, whenever he gives: “Is there any rival in glory?”

    just as I say, whenever he grows earnest: “Is there any challenger?”

  6. How many a radiant day is yours—white-blazed and white-footed—

    on which we drive back calamities, striking at their forelocks,

  7. where blood is wine and heads are seen as its jars,

    tapped by their brown spears as though by lancets.

  8. There sword-blades appear like a playful beauty’s cheek,

    and lances like the supple waist of a flirt.

  9. We wronged you when we compared you with the rain pouring down;

    for, measured side by side, a two-year-old camel is nothing like a full-grown one.

Sol 5.6