Sol 6.1

  1. But they are male bustards, their beards swaying

    On hollow reeds whose frail stalks sway against one another.

  2. They were protected, and feel shame after their flight

    To where, for the children, its little one is folded away.

  3. By my life, Ja'far has indeed met with evil

    At Tikhfah—days whose shortest was long.

  4. At Tikhfah and al-Rayyan, where swooped down

    Upon Ja'far its eagles and its vultures.

  5. And the clans of Ja'far have learned that

    Its backs shield Ja'far from the blows of spearpoints.

  6. It whimpers, while Ja'far's weaklings have clasped

    Sharp points between jaws whose openings are wide.

  7. Ja'far has suffered through me in both its branches, and there have passed

    Over me, for them, seventy years, all their months complete.

  8. Sons of Ja'far, do you remember, when you

    Were herded along, when its many overwhelmed the few?

  9. And when there was no food but what was fed to you by

    The bellies of Ja'far's maidens and their backs?

  10. And Maysun has learned that your spears

    Have points that openly fear Abu Bakr.

  11. On the evening you gave Jahwash to Sawadah,

    While its defender had not yet been routed by spearpoints.

  12. There remained at al-Ajbab, encamped there,

    Dabinah; its tent-sides were not torn down for departure.

  13. Ja'far brings disgraces home every night

    Upon itself; they go out at dawn when its young camels go.

  14. So if Qays has put you forward to defend it,

    Then Qays has been disgraced, and its defender humbled.

Sol 6.1