The pre-Islamic poet al-Shanfara begins his poem Lamiyyat al-Arab with a defiant renouncing of his tribe, whom he sees as having failed him. In no uncertain terms, he tells them to pack their belongings on their camels and be gone! Shanfara feels more akin to the wild desert animals than he does to his tribe:

This paper-cut portrait therefore incorporates the Arabic text:
aqeemu banee 'ummi sudoora matiyyikum
fa'innee ila qawmin siwaa-kum la'amyalu

English:
"Raise up the breasts of your camels, O ye sons of my mother,
for I incline towards a people other than you!"

Original silhouette paper-cut £75. Prints also available. Please contact me for further details or to commission similar work.