Sol 6.1

  1. Leave aside mention of al-Aqiq and al-Zawra,

    and cast off obedience to desire.

  2. And the heart's preoccupation with bashful, graceful maidens,

    and recounting heartache and lamenting separation.

  3. Indeed, an event in this age has distracted the poet

    from Mayyah and from Asma.

  4. Thus wisdom appeared from it, and there emerged

    a lesson for minds and for the wise.

  5. Move, my reed pen, that I may write of it an account

    that spread among all peoples as light spreads.

  6. The people of Sudan were under Egypt's rule,

    with the Aziz's subjects beneath a single banner.

  7. Then the corrupters saw that the people's unity

    kept their independence growing.

  8. So they incited some subjects against others,

    through the efforts of wicked devils.

  9. So the people, their hearts divided, were far

    from sound judgment that would protect them, and from guidance.

  10. They insulted the rulers and cast aside the laws,

    and treated sincere advisers with arrogance.

  11. We kept treating the disease with firmness,

    and the disease of souls is the foulest disease.

  12. So with the sword we severed a limb from their body,

    but it did the remaining limbs no good.

  13. How many lives we sacrificed to restrain them,

    and precious wealth beyond all counting!

  14. So we left them to run riot on the earth,

    spreading corruption with violence and audacity.

  15. And God ordained that we return to them,

    with ruin from our might, and pestilence.

  16. Then came Kitchener, clear-sighted,

    valiant and intrepid, a master of cunning.

  17. He led white men against the rebels, and black men,

    with red men, over earth and water.

  18. Troops surged like the deep sea on the Nile,

    and others surged across the desert:

  19. infantry like lions, and horsemen

    who terrify eagles when battle is joined,

  20. on sleek steeds like she-ghouls,

    racing ahead, flying in their gallop,

  21. thirsty in battle, with nothing to quench

    their thirst but the blood of enemies.

  22. And blue coats of mail of David's weave,

    against which bright swords have no cutting power;

  23. and swords gleaming beneath the billowing

    dust, like lightning flashing in darkness;

  24. and firmly planted guns, still during combat,

    dignity had settled upon them amid the fray,

  25. vengeful, their hearts ablaze

    with death-dealing red thunderbolts.

  26. Whenever it was feared they might grow light with terror,

    the gravity of pride weighed them down.

  27. And fleets like mountains, save that

    a tremor of haughtiness ran through them.

  28. He set out at dawn, while wild beasts and birds

    were heedless, and the jinn lay asleep.

  29. He met the enemy and narrowed before them

    the wide expanse in battle.

  30. Spraying bullets rain woe upon them;

    whenever they pour down, they pour down calamity.

  31. And the heroes' roar crashes like thunder,

    rising to reach the heights of heaven.

  32. They scattered their ranks—how numerous the slain,

    and how wretched the hearts of the living!

  33. No wounded man is safe from death;

    no captive has hope of release.

  34. Then groaning echoed with gasping sobs,

    and cries resounded with weeping:

  35. O victors, be gentle with us—gentle,

    and merciful to the innocent and unarmed!

  36. We are your brothers, united in a faith

    upright, which decreed the preservation of brotherhood.

  37. Do you obey an intruder, comrades,

    in wrongdoing, O prize coveted by intruders?

  38. Are we to blame, when we were driven by force

    by an ignorant man from a company of fools?

  39. They hope for compassion from them—but can one hope

    for compassion from an unyielding rock?

  40. A scene that turns tears into blood

    and kindles fires in the entrails.

  41. O age whose rulers kill children

    by slaughtering them upon women's breasts!

  42. Are you bringing the tyrants of 'Ad back to us,

    O age of steam and electricity?

  43. Where are the fair-minded, where those with mercy?

    Rather, where are the eyes of the observers?

  44. We triumphed—but what have we reaped

    from victory after such long suffering?

  45. We reaped only the accord as recompense;

    indeed, this accord is the worst recompense.

  46. It required that we be wronged in what we conquered

    by expending wealth and sons.

  47. And when the weak shares with the strong

    in a prize, his share is like drifting dust.

  48. Omdurman, indeed your people were unjust

    and violated the sanctities of the weak.

  49. Omdurman, how dark you grew with injustice!

    Then shine with the gleam of blood.

  50. Omdurman, you will make us forget London,

    the radiant mother of cities.

  51. Time sings of you when

    description defeats the poets' tongues.

Sol 6.1