translated from the Arabic by Abdullah al-Udhari
1
They killed my love then threatened me for wearing my mourning clothes.
2
Let Allah bless those who grieve or untap their tears for the man killed by his haters.
3
Let the morning clouds, like his generous hand, shower the earth that blankets him.
هدّّدوني من أجلِِ لب سِِ الحداد لحبيبٍٍ أردوه لي بالحدادِِ
ر مَحَ اللهُُ مََن يجودُُ بدمعٍٍ. أو ينوحُُ على قتيلِِ الأعادِِ
وسقتْْه بمثلِِ جودِِ يديْْه هيثُُ أضحى من البلادِِ الغوادِِ
“[They killed my love]” by Hafsa bint al-Ḥājj al-Rakūniyya is published in Classical Poems by Arab Women: A Bilingual Anthology by Abdullah al-Udhari (Saqi Books, 1991). Used with the permission of Saqi Books.