Sol 5.6

  1. And remember him for a glorious, sincere defense,

    made with the point of that ornate, honey-flowing pen.

  2. when Roosevelt came as a visitor to Egypt—the Quiver—

    and shot her breast with arrows, by way of your thanks.

  3. He found the aggressor’s audacity monstrous and without

    excuse, as he did his power to destroy.

  4. The case of a man of his station troubled him,

    for in the West every word of his is quoted.

  5. Can one who teaches humankind courage appear

    in Egypt as a teacher of terrors?

  6. And can the president of the nation widest in freedom

    entice those who spurn oppression into humiliation?

  7. I found Ahmad unable to sit still

    that day, so fierce was his agitation.

  8. He set his reed pen flowing in a splendid outpouring,

    or brought his eloquence to completion through dictation.

  9. He called the pens to arms, some light,

    to defend the homeland’s honor, and some weighty.

  10. How astonishing the boasting of that guest, whose

    boastfulness has become proverbial!

  11. O hunter of the fierce lion in its forest,

    do you think you have found a gazelle’s lair here?

  12. What do you know of Egypt—her condition, her people—

    you who stayed in her but three nights?

  13. You taught her the science of annihilation while playing healer—

    what health can nations have once they have passed away?

  14. The black slave does not hunt merely for sport;

    let him soothe his wounds and continue tending them.

  15. Or crack the whip, within whose sound there lies

    an awakening of the heedless and revival of the worn-out.

  16. Timely succor for the anguished is kinder

    than promising him riches that are hard to attain.

  17. And the cruelest plight is for a stumbling man to be promised

    relief, yet remain unrelieved.

Sol 5.6