1. Has the drawing forgiven, or not, after a year of sin?
A drawing for Asma, like scribbles in a foreign script.

2. For Asma, when her homelands could not tempt us
And we feared not that its causes would entrap us.

3. So leave that be, and tell our people, if you meet them,
Does blame miss who has always been most blamable?

4. Our loyal allies: 'Amr ibn 'Aamir
And the house of Samut—how Nufatha showed reserve!

5. Both our brothers chose a place of assembly
From the winding road, from a wise man, then camped.

6. The lonely one fled after guarding and his day,
And fog descended on 'Ali ibn Aslam.

7. With the two armor-coats Misahiq bade us farewell,
And a horseman made off with a donkey bleating.

8. I bid the horsemen live, if I say to their band
From afar, “Live!”—or else, “Greetings and peace!”

9. When we saw we were left to our own affair,
We came to her who was most rightful and noble.

10. And we said: “Waiting and searching, strength
And a lasting, common band cannot be destroyed.

11. Thanks be to God for her choice and her people,
Blessed before today—He favored and blessed.”

12. And say to Ibn 'Umar: “What do you see of your people’s thoughts,
Abu Mudrik? Would they take the interlaced?”

13. While we are a people accustomed to the custom of Naba’a:
A cross, when the age grew grim with prohibitions.

14. We strove and then our striving attained
Husain ibn 'Awf, after he had been most deterring.

15. And Abu l-Jawwab 'Amr ibn Khalid unbound him
And he was no shirker there, wherever he probed.

16. And the day Hayy ibn 'Urwa and his son came to us
To eloquent Fatik, bold and resolved,

17. The morning Harithan and Mushir called him
He met a wide gulf, no isthmus in between.

18. So if you recall the excellence of duties, we
Sufficed at the keening women of the Quraysh.

19. Or if you count good deeds, I say of them
Until I am weary and fed up.

20. And if there is only battle, we
Do battle with whoever is between chestnut and brown.

21. The marsh at our heels refused that our herd
And steeds should cease pursuing a forbidden mere.

22. Driving back a foe, or stragglers among them,
An opener of glory or earning spoils.

23. We are a people whose steeds will never cease
To dart with the flanks of the ridden beast.

24. Turning the well-worn spindle-ends back on them,
Quenching the guest's thirst with pure curdled milk.

25. We have a colt, hard to control, gallant,
Bold when he senses the herd of horses.

26. Now we drive him on, now we cheek him
To every interwoven tamarisk or lotus.

27. We made Taiy withdraw from our lands
And Murad's alliance from its coverts.

28. We came upon Hanbash with his uncle's son
Abu l-Husn, when he shunned wine and swore off.

29. So tell the Bakr, if you meet them,
With the best greeting one who is honored may give.

30. Our father is your father, our ties between us
Close—we ordered no untouchable to sin.

31. If you accept propriety, we will be patient for your rights,
Propriety will not lack a parting gift or hobble.

32. Otherwise no harm in death for its people,
And this age left none to regret life.