The Story
The horses, the night, and the open land know me well,
as do the sword, the spear, the paper and the pen.
I chased a restless soul, heavy with its longing,
upon a noble steed, sacred in its stride.
In the rush of motion, we became one —his legs my stride, his hooves my hands, each movement answering the will of hand and foot together.
With a keen blade, I passed between opposing lines, striking as the tide of death rose and crashed in motion.
Al-Mutanabbi (915–965) is regarded as one of the greatest poets of the Arabic language, known for the strength of his words and his rare union of horsemanship and intellect. He was not a poet of praise alone, but one of conviction, where words carry power and poetry commands presence.
The selected verses from “Wā ḥarra qalbah” poem reflect his vision of true chivalry: mastery of the sword and the horse, balanced by thought and intention — where the Arab horse emerges as a companion of spirit, symbolizing courage and harmony between resolve and action.
