1. Behold, all cattle of el-Khaizuran
Would be sacrificed for cattle of el-Haizaban.

2. And for every surviving she-camel
Of el-Bujawi, though not beautiful in walking,

3. But they are ropes of life,
And snares of enemies and shields from harm.

4. With them I hazarded the wilderness, gambling
Either for this or for that.

5. When they were terrified, the steeds went before
And the white swords and brown spears.

6. So they passed by a palm-tree on which were
Some clusters like swords- a vivid likeness.

7. We turned away from the world and from need of it.
And it (the palm-tree) offered us choice of its fruit unplucked.

8. And we said: Where is the land of Iraq?
And it (the palm) replied, while we were at el-Turbanah.

9. Then it blew against us with the puffs of the north wind,
Facing the zephyrs moving gently.

10. Past the stony tracts and ribs of the desert,
The neighbor of El-Buweirah and El-Gada.

11. So it crossed the plain of Es-Suwais sweeping the ground
Beyond the ostrich and beyond the wild cows

12. Up to the knot of El-Jaouf, until it perceived
By the water of El-Jurawi some of the echo.

13. At dawn images appeared to it and in the forenoon
The wide plain seemed to it narrow.

14. And the tribe of El-Jumai' called to it in the afternoon
The wild cows and the ostriches.

15. So, O night, on a hard-backed steed
Cloaking the provinces-gloomy the aspect-

16. We returned Ruhaimah in its enclosure
While the rest of the journey was farther than what had passed.

17. When we alighted we fixed the tent-pegs
Over our glories and lofty deeds.

18. And we remained kissing our swords
And wiping them clean of the blood of the foe

19. That Egypt and those in Iraq might know
And those in fortresses that I am the youth

20. Who kept his word and who was unyielding
And who transgressed against him who transgressed.

21. Not every one who talks is truthful
Nor does every looker into mirrors discern clearly.

22. The heart must need have a contrivance
And a purpose that splits the hardness of rocks.

23. He who has a heart like my heart
Breaks through the gateway to glory.

24. And every road the youth travels
Is as much as he can endure of hardship.

25. And El-Khuwailid slept during our night
For he had slept before blind, seeing nothing.

26. And in our proximity, between us,
Were his insults from his ignorance and blindness.

27. Indeed, before the eunuch I used to think
That heads were the seat of discretion.

28. But when I looked upon his intelligence
I saw that all discretion rests in the testicles.

29. What laughter is there left in Egypt
Except tears like pouring rain!

30. There a Nabatean from the people of blackness
Gives lessons in genealogy to the people of passion.

31. And a black slave whose mustache is half-shaved
Is called "Full moon of darkness."

32. And poetry in which I praised El-Karkadan
Between El-Quraish and El-Ruka.

33. That was no praise of him,
Rather, it was satire of mankind.

34. Some people went astray with their idols.
As for spitting of winds, no indeed!

35. Those are mere statues, while this one
Speaks nonsense when they move him.

36. He who does not know himself, his worth,
Sees in himself what he does not see.