Khansa

Khansa Poems

Khansa Biography

Khansā (translated from Arabic as either 'gazelle' or 'short-nosed') was a 7th century Arabic poet. She was born and raised in the Najd region (the central region of modern-day Saudi Arabia). She was a contemporary of Muhammad, and eventually converted to Islam. In her time, the role of a female poet was to write elegies for the dead and perform them for the tribe in public oral competitions. Al-Khansa’ won respect and fame in these competitions with her elegies for her brothers, Ṣakhr and Muʿāwiyah, who had died in battle. She is the best known female poet in Arabic literature.)

The Best Poem Of Khansa

On Her Brother Sakhr

No day was sad as the day Sakhr
left me. Sweet and forever bitter.
Sakhr was our lord, our chief.
In the winter Sakhr made a feast
and led us when we rode.
Sakhr killed when we were hungry.
Sakhr was our guide
like a mountain whose top is fire.
Firm, perfect face, and pious,
he kindled wars on the morning of fear.
He bore flags, saved our blood, was
witness for assemblies, an army for armies,
sacrificer of camels, a refuge for the oppressed,
liberator of prisoners, mender of bones.
I say there was no one like him in the world.

Khansa Comments