Ode LV: Is it for a home now

Is it for a home now void that the tears stream forth from thine eyes — an abode whence its people have passed in the morning and journeyed away ?

The flat-nosed gazelles therein lead about their younglings to feed, and the fawns in the open valley are bay and bright red in hue.

Was it of Bint 'Ajlan that the shade cast itself our way by night, while my saddle lay by, where we slept a little removed?

And when I started awake at the phantom, and terror grew, lo! 'twas but my saddle, nought else, and the country was white and bare.

Nay, but 'twas a visitor able to wake from his sleep a man, and pierce him again with anguish that rends his heart in twain.

At each of our nightly halts she comes to trouble our rest — ah! would that she stayed not only by night but when dawns the day!

She turned and departed, leaving behind her a gnawing pain, and sore was my torment when her eyes seemed to gush with tears.

Not wine of the white grape, fragrant as musk [when the jar is broached], and set on the strainer to clear, and ladled from cup to cup —

A captive it dwelt in the jar for twenty revolving years, above it a seal of clay, exposed to the wind and sun,

Imprisoned by Jews who brought it from Golan in lands afar, and offered for sale by a vintner who knew well to follow gain —

Is sweeter than is her mouth when night brings me near to her— nay, sweeter her lips than the wine, and fuller of pure delight.

At dawn I went forth on a steed clean-skinned, as a palm-branch lean: I trained him until his flesh was worn down and fined away :

His cheeks long, perfect in shape, none finds in him aught to blame ; a bay of a bright red tinge, one leg ringed, a star on brow:

A proud man I ride on his back to where sit the chiefs in moot. I ponder within which course to take with the most of gain :

Pursued, he outstrips all speed : pursuer, he wins with ease : he knows how to thread all straits, and gain for his master spoil.

Behold how he gallops, gay, on his back a full-armed knight: when all of the troop are spent, he prances from side to side.

On him have I ridden, one of raiders in far-stretched line, who meet in the folk they raid a spear-play to match their own.

He bounds like a young gazelle that springs from the covert, tall and head-high he answers when thou callest on him for speed :

He gushes, as forth spouts fast the flow of a pent-up fount beneath in the sand, where gravel and bushes lay bare the spring.