The Security of Zahir Bin Abu Sulma’s Elegy
I have grown weary of the burdens of life, and who lives
eighty years, I assure you, will also grow tired.
I have witnessed death striking randomly, and whomever it touches
is taken, while the one it spares lives on, only to grow old.
I possess knowledge of today and the yesterday preceding it,
but, alas, I remain ignorant of what tomorrow might bring.
He who does not navigate many affairs carefully
will suffer at the hands of those who do not hesitate to strike.
He who possesses virtue but withholds it from his people
will be deemed superfluous and criticized.
He who gives of his generosity without regard for his honor
will be disregarded, and he who does not guard against slander
will find himself the target of it.
And he who keeps watch over his own interests,
enjoys the fruits of recognition.
He who remains faithful will not be criticized, and he whose heart is devoted
to unwavering righteousness will not falter.
He who travels afar often misjudges his friends as foes,
and he who fails to honor himself will not be honored.
Whatever qualities dwell within a person,
even if they believe they are hidden from others, will eventually be revealed.
And he who bears the weight of people’s expectations
will find that time will not nourish him in his solitude.
The Length of Night by Abu Talib
The length of my night has become burdensome and troublesome,
with tears flowing like rain from an overflowing pitcher.
For Qusay, through his dreams,
does the dream revert after play?
And the exile of Qusay, the son of Hashim,
is akin to the weaver’s labor with delicate wood.
And thus spoke to Ahmad: You are a man
familiar with the nuances of intricate tales, with scanty causes.
And although Ahmad has approached them
truthfully, he has not come to them with deceit.
Nevertheless, our brethren have supported
the sons of Hashim and Banu al-Muttalib.
They are siblings as inseparable as the strength of an oath,
binding us together in moments of despair.
Oh Qusay, were you not informed
about the tribulations that have come to be among the Arabs?
So do not hold back your hands,
pulling away from the conflict with a hint of surprise.
And you sought Ahmad for what you desired,
with ties of kinship and closeness.
To what end, I ask you, do you persist?
In jokes and a dream that leaves one wanting?
You claimed kinship and fraternity
and that you were brothers in lineage.
Then how can you oppose his sons,
and those of piety from a respected family?
For we alongside those who performed pilgrimage
and the Kaaba of Mecca, with its veils,
will either honor Ahmad or expose themselves
to the foils of swords and sharp edges.
And you will acknowledge through your own houses
the proud hearts and determined steeds,
as the horses gallop fiercely in their run,
breathing life into strength.
You will see them among the vast crowd,
with a swift rim of honor, still standing tall,
and they are unbending, like the gazelles
that were borne through the chaos of battles.
Relieving My Heart’s Burden by Al-Nabighah Al-Dhubyani
Relieve me of this burden, O Umaymah, for I am weary,
and a night tormented by slow-moving stars.
The night has extended to the point I believe it will never end,
and the one who observes the stars has no intention of returning.
My heart, abandoned by night, bears a great sorrow,
multiplied from all sides.
Upon me lies a blessing from Amr, after another blessing
bestowed by his father, that is not marked by misfortune.
I swore an oath that bears no duplicity,
nor any knowledge aside from good expectations of my companion.
Even if there are two graves: one in Jilk,
and another in Sidon, by the river at Harb.
As for Al-Harith Al-Jafni, the lord of his people,
he should strive with his army towards the enemy’s home.
And I have confidence in him for victory, for it is said that an army has invaded
from the tribes of Ghassan, but not one of them is weak.
These are his relatives—Dunya and Amr bin Amer—
they are formidable, and their power is unmatched.
When they march, the skies above them are filled
with flocks of birds, guiding their way.
They will be their allies until they have seized upon their enemies,
through the fiercest of battles, shedding blood cleaving through their foes.
Behind the throngs stand the aged, clothed in the finest attire,
with secure hearts, assured that their lineage prevails.
Let’s Weep for Imru’ al-Qais
Let us weep for the memory of a beloved and his dwelling,
in Sakt al-Liwa, between the places of al-Dakhul and al-Hawml.
She has weathered the years, yet the traces remain,
as the weaving resembles the winds of the south and north.
You can see the varying tracks of camels across its plains,
and its level ground resembles black pepper.
As if on the day of separation, when they departed,
by the sumrat trees, the bitter cucumbers.
There stood my companions, insisting: “Do not perish from sorrow; maintain your grace.”
I have found solace in tears, flowing freely,
does it bring any refuge at a desolate spot?
I have always endured the pain as did my forebear,
just as before, grief from the wife of Al-Huwairith.
And her neighbor, the mother of Al-Rabab, at the time of misfortune.
Hence, my tears flowed abundantly, overflowing,
upon my neck, until they mingled with my burden.