Sol 5.6

  1. Strike with sword—or tongue;

    and thrust with spear—or fingertips.

  2. The tongue can take the place of the Indian-forged sword,

    and fingertips the place of the spearhead.

  3. Aspire to glory with a resolve

    that outweighs the lofty mountain peaks.

  4. Race toward the highest reaches of noble achievement,

    holding the victor’s reed—the prize of the race.

  5. Die beneath the shade of finely honed blades,

    for this life is fleeting.

  6. Or live nobly throughout your days,

    forsaking the abode of humiliation.

  7. And if you see honor drawing farther away

    while disgrace draws near to you,

  8. then firm resolve means death with dignity:

    there is no life in humiliation.

  9. For if a free man is subjected to abasement,

    he takes the keen Yemeni sword as his companion;

  10. and when familiar dwellings turn inhospitable to him,

    he makes his home upon the saddles of noble camels.

Sol 5.6