1. The abodes of the living, from Maythab to Tikrit,
Were quenched towards life, and enlivened,

2. Where the flowing sands and the gazelles wander,
In the valley of al-Washsh without the mountains.

3. Swaying in the frames of adornment, erecting
Their forelocks amid pearls and rubies,

4. From every melodious, dark-eyed gazelle,
Casting from her eyelids a glance into the enclosed pasture,

5. Passing the night perfuming and scenting
With her flowing tresses, saturated with pure musk.

6. Relieved of the cold, disputing its chill,
With wine of Babel in it is its sorcery steeped.

7. While we and life are cold without fervour,
At that time, even chill was not devoid of ardour.

8. Time has not neglected the days we revelled in,
Until it made them a symbol of dispersion.

9. Oh my soul, beware the voice of the raven when
They appear and he points them out with his cawing,

10. No prophet went astray while his contemporaries strayed,
As we found, nor did the generations of old.

11. Oh soul, the rule of passion judges against you
If you obey love, so either live through it or die!

12. Woe is me, with misfortune, from my day, little food and sleep,
And in consent, before a vigilant and weeping eye,

13. And good, noble ones who awoke
Intoxicated with wine, struck down in the taverns,

14. All most graceful, when drunk
With goodness, and from lewdness refraining.

15. I gave them pure, yellow wine
Whose seal was of minted musk.

16. Solar, from the saliva of the vine, and it had matured
In the Dir’ of Anah, or in Hawiyah,

17. And for the boys, atop its pitcher
A song hummed between the perceived and hidden,

18. And lads whose cheeks the riding crop caressed
In an undertaking blotting out banners made blind,

19. The light of travel upon lights, you would think them
Among the double stars in the darkness, celestial houris,

20. They drank the morning draught and breathed the scents that
Sufficed them from the guidance of full moons and roads.

21. Until when they descended the land of peril, their wealth
Pastured between pitfalls and firmness.

22. And in the abodes of Banu Nabhan, from Samad,
They encamped, with every long spear upright.

23. Muhammad ibn Nabhan, and Ahmad, when
They encamped among the Umar clan, pure breed horses.

24. Three, like Indian swords, all of them
Were given the choice of every gift.

25. Of all most praiseworthy traits
Easy-natured, beautiful in pardon, formidable,

26. Preferring to do good, of noble lineage,
Embroidered in doing fine deeds, ennobled,

27. Young men not inclined to any blame
Or disgrace, and not neglectful of doing good,

28. The family of Utayk, the decree of the King adjudged theirs
Merit, praise, supremacy, and renown,

29. Cultured in dream and experience,
Built up in the granting of strength and firmness,

30. Grey hair and youths on saddled, marked steeds,
Like ghouls upon them like hideous afreets,

31. The swell of flood and upheaval takes them
Into great waves of the magenta torrent,

32. Of all most grievous inciting of the heart to flee
To every rugged, wrathful, western place,

33. I swore by the pilgrim caravans he leads
To Mecca, making effort at the appointed times,

34. That if we intended love of other than
The family of Nabhan we would be like idol-worshippers!

35. What can I attempt in my time, when I have hung
My palm from them with a rope not cut?

36. I gained wealth and their presence sufficed me
To traverse the wilderness, seeking livelihood.

37. These are the beauties every person of merit longs for,
And every despicable person spurns,

38. Live long, O Banu Umar, and tomorrow
Your enviers will be between the abandoned and supressed!

39. And here is the magic, strung among the pearls, reaching
To grievous, rugged ropes, carved,