جَرداءُ صَلعاءُ لَم يُبقِ الزَمانُ لَها

جَرداءُ صَلعاءُ لَم يُبقِ الزَمانُ لَها

إِلّا لِساناً مُلِحّاً بِالمَلاماتِ

إِلّا لِساناً مُلِحّاً بِالمَلاماتِ

Hairless and bald, time has left her

Bald and bare, time left her naught

only a tongue relentless in reproach.

But a tongue, salty with blame.

لَطَمتُها لَطمَةً طارَت عَمامَتُها

لَطَمتُها لَطمَةً طارَت عَمامَتُها

عَن صَلعَةٍ لَيسَ فيها خَمسُ شَعراتِ

عَن صَلعَةٍ لَيسَ فيها خَمسُ شَعراتِ

I gave her a slap, and her turban flew

I slapped her - off flew her turban

off a bald head with not even five hairs.

From a bald pate with scarce five hairs.

كَأَنَّها بَيضَةُ الشاري إِذا بَرَقَت

كَأَنَّها بَيضَةُ الشاري إِذا بَرَقَت

بِالمَأزِقِ الضَنكِ بَينَ المَشرَفِيّاتِ

بِالمَأزِقِ الضَنكِ بَينَ المَشرَفِيّاتِ

As though it were a Kharijite warrior’s helmet when it gleams

Like an ostrich egg when it gleams

in the cramped press of battle among Mashrafi swords.

In dire plight amid thorns and crags.

لَها حُروفٌ نَواتٍ في جَوانِبِها

لَها حُروفٌ نَواتٍ في جَوانِبِها

كَقِسمَةِ الأَرضِ حيزَت بِالتُخوماتِ

كَقِسمَةِ الأَرضِ حيزَت بِالتُخوماتِ

It has ridges jutting out along its sides,

She has withered letters at her sides

like an allotment of land marked off by boundaries.

Like frontiers parceling out the earth.

وَكاهِلٌ كَسِنامِ العيسِ جَرَّدَهُ

وَكاهِلٌ كَسِنامِ العيسِ جَرَّدَهُ

طولُ السِفارِ وَإِلحاحُ القُتوداتِ

طولُ السِفارِ وَإِلحاحُ القُتوداتِ

And an upper back like a pale camel’s hump stripped bare by

Her shoulder like a horse's withers, bared

long travel and the relentless pressure of saddle frames.

By ceaseless missions and gifts refused.