by Imru al-Qays

Imru al-Qays ibn Hujr (d. circa 550 C.E.) was one of the most renowned poets of pre-Islamic Arabia. His biography, like that of most of the classical pre-Islamic poets, straddles legend and history. According to the most common account of his life, he was the youngest son of Hujr, the last great chieftain of the southern Arabian tribal group Kindah and king over the unruly tribes of the Banu Asad and Banu Ghatafan. The young Imru al-Qays’s devotion to poetry, especially erotic poetry, led to his banishment from his father’s house. His father instructed his servant Rabi`ah to put his son to death and bring back his eyes as evidence that he had carried out the order. Taking pity on the boy, Rabi`ah...