The Ode of Amr Ibn Kulthum
Awake and bring forth your cup, let us enjoy the morning,
And leave us no remnants of the precious wines,
Which shimmer like the light of the finest horses
When the warm water intertwines with them.
It sways with intoxication in its essence,
When one indulges in its taste until softened.
You can observe the greedy one when commanded,
To him, for his wealth is of great concern.
The cup was taken from us, O mother of Amr,
And the drinking cup had a rightful place in our hands.
And what is worse than the three, O mother of Amr,
Is to be with your companion who will not enjoy the morning with us.
And a cup I once drank in Baalbek,
And another in Damascus, alas!
We shall eventually meet our fates,
Appointed for us and for those who determine it.
Stop before we part, oh traveler,
So we can convey certainty to you, and you can share with us.
Pause, we inquire if you have caused a rift
In this separation, or have you betrayed our trust?
Upon the day of suffering through strikes and wounds,
Allegiance from your loyal eyes was submitted.
And that tomorrow remains what today is
And after tomorrow, what you do not know.
She may show you when she enters a deserted region,
And you have become secure from the eyes of those who envy.
With arms of pure color, like a virgin,
Whose hue strikes as they have not read it clear.
With breasts akin to ivory in their softness,
We embrace from the hands of the touchers.
And they expand in elegance, soaring high,
With burdens that weigh down on us with what we shared.
And a hideout where the door grows narrow,
And I have been made insane with this transcendent form.
A night breeze or gentle respite
Causes their adornments to resonate.
And nothing resembles my longing like the mother of a hawk,
Whom she lost and then returned in mourning.
And there is not a single female that leaves her burden
Except she remembers her young ones.
I recalled my youth and longed for it,
When I saw her upbringing as roots that guide us.
Then the dove withdrew and puffed up,
Like swords clutched tightly in blooded hands.
Father of Hind, do not rush upon us,
Let us take our time, so we can relay the truth.
We shall carry the banners pure as white,
And we shall return them red, drenched in blood.
And in the days that are distant and bright,
We denied the ruler therein and our king.
And the leader of the clan has been crowned,
With the crown of kings that protect the oppressed.
They left the horses watching over him,
Adorning their bridles with colors from our stance.
We descended the dwellings with devotion,
To the plains we are sworn to bring the appointed ones.
And the dogs of the tribe have been unleashed on us,
And we will strive against those who have taken from us.
When shall we move towards the kin of our foes,
That they may have the flour of our reunion.
Its heavy load comes from the eastern Najd,
And its refreshment rests with Qudaa group.
You have settled in the shelter of our guests,
And we hurried to fulfill your hospitality.
We called to you swiftly, drinking from our fountain,
We shall be kind to our people and abstain from them,
And we will carry from them what they have loaded us with.
We challenge those who delay our strength,
We strike with swords when attacked.
With dark blades from precise craftsmanship,
Covering ourselves in both red and shining white.
As if the skulls of the heroes have been cut in it,
And the paths are filled with the fallen foes.
We cleave through the heads of the tribes,
And we push away the necks until they break.
And indeed the grievance after grievance comes into view,
Upon you as the hidden sickness emerges.
We have inherited glory that Ma’ad knows,
We contend for it until it becomes apparent.
And if the leaders of the clan have collapsed,
We will uphold the rest who seek from us.
We will crush their heads unjustly,
And they do not know what evils await them.
As if our swords are among us and from them,
In a world where the players rule.
As if our garments are of blood-red hue,
Soaked in colors or fated for slaughter.
When the evil is also captured on the horizon,
And from horror represented, one must be.
We have assembled like the wild beasts of history,
Preserving the shame of generations.
When we are pursued, we are different,
For we are the stark defenders of our cause.
May they look within us, into recoveries of old,
So let them learn we are still by ourselves.
You will soon find we possess our own in battle,
And we protect those whom we have served.
And we shall stay as we fight,
Until we achieve the deserved rewards.
And we are inevitable once we unite,
And we are expenditures as the thirst is quenched.
And we drink of clear waters if we need,
While others gulp of mud and clay.
Would that I relay to the sons of Tammahi about us,
And share the news, how did you find us?
When the king summoned the people grievously,
Are we to dwell in disgrace amongst us?
We filled the land until it shrank upon us,
And the ocean rose to meet our fleet.
When our boys reach maturity and grow,
We bring them the savage surges of pride.
Response to Amr Ibn Qays’s Necklace
I returned Amr Ibn Qays’s necklace,
Twenty of black pearls from the peak of the mountain.
If my mother had not given birth to me, I’d have sheared,
Where the phoenix of the evening wanders with my brother’s dogs.
It was clear to me that it was no mistake,
Since I considered him my choices.
No sight of such a horseman has beheld my eyes,
As when the call came to the sons of Shajab.
It wasn’t among the sons of Taim that I took roots,
Neither among Abdul Wud in stature or kin.
And by the fallout of Ibn Kulthum, I distance myself,
For his relationship fell apart, having been revoked.
Who will message?
Who will carry the news to Amr Ibn Hind?
For when you failed to guard those under your care,
Are you to rob Malik with the sins of Taim?
You’ve crossed the gate and defiled it,
Had it not been for the grace your father bestowed on us.
Your spear has pierced or dwelt on the soft,
And do you forget Huwairiyrat in the morning?
When the steeds shielded all you treasured?
We were at your mercy, O Ibn Hind,
With us you aim to preserve the sanctities of righteousness.
You will discern when the spearheads clash,
That from whom holds your archway when fait awaits.
Those who dare by day when the blare set forth,
Each heedless to build upon what they often destroy.
If they come in legion of ninety thousand,
Will they face either riotous anger or rebellion?
Gather my peers
Gather my peers, while the charm of travel captivates,
I haven’t felt a farewell from you, it dictates.
I’ve never seen a visage as grand as her beauty
That resembles a moon beam.
Send word to the sons of Jasham Ibn Bakr,
And to all who deserve a noble tale.
That the noble hero cousin of Amr,
In the morning when the battle unfolds.
His captains assembled with determination,
And when they shoot, the arrows shall fly back.
May Allah reward the noble one, Yazid, greatly,
And grant him happiness and grace,
As we retreated from Ibn Kulthum Ibn Saad,
In joyful praise as he faces struggle.
With the assembly of Qur’an’s sons,
Who crush through daggers whenever a battle occurs.
He leads the fair one while
She quenches her thirst by his arms.
You rebuke me amidst honesty
You rebuke me in the midst of respect,
O daughter of Thuwair Ibn Hilal.
You rebuke me when you saw me,
My camels ravaged for the drink and remnants.
Do not blame me for I consume everything,
I use all that I possess on my side.
For if it appears I rejoice in wealth,
When I deplete it, I feel no regret.
Fortune flows; do not miss it,
Riding the moral towards a respected offer.
Accepting personal risk during the fighting day,
I often take the lead on horseback and in combat.
And I am revered upon a noble path,
Against my enemies with pride and staying power.
I warned my enemies of tomorrow
I warned my enemies that tomorrow
The bow shall lead the people everywhere,
For no greenery remains for them to grasp.
If yesterday I became liberated,
Let it be to those who desire freedom,
And seek endurance at every turn of fate.
How many a foe contests by wrongdoing,
Should they even attempt to partake in evil acts?
They shall slander me even when hidden away,
But when we meet, they shakenly recoil,
Presenting sweetened words to me,
And dismissing that which they unearth.
I, a man of grave concern and measure,
From among a society that stands proud.
Do you see their enemy unmasked,
As they fall before the triumphs of our kin?
For the bold shall raise their stakes,
While they tread on preserved loyalty and trust.
Indeed, they feed their daughters,
With bravery and honesty in moments of battle,
Providing everything when times are tough.
And I still accept the honor,
For witnessed was their courage in ensuing conflicts.