1. Love clings to the tresses of the disheveled one,
And death is part of the cords of passions.

2. If only virtue, when our hearts
Were afflicted with sickness, were helpful and a cure!

3. For me insult has delight and wit,
And I love some of the wittiness of the outspoken.

4. And I see whiteness on women as insolence,
While chastity is known by those of ruddy complexion.

5. And in my heart there is affection for all of them,
Except for every base and twisted one.

6. She is no night owl whose veil remains
Fastened until morning with gum.

7. You will find her rising as if it were an effort
Until the ill-omened one gets up.

8. So if I pride myself on the Wä'il, they certainly built
On the day of noble deeds above every building.

9. And if I singled out the sons of Lujaym, I
Would choose the noble and people of song.

10. A people, when the awful descends, who endure
Fair praise and the greatest burdens.

11. Our assemblies do not settle for one who distorts speech
Or makes dirty songs.

12. Count as one who quartered armies because of his firmness
Twenty, while he is counted among the living.

13. And the horses swim in the plain as if they
Were birds showered from the shadows of clouds.

14. They come out from a thundering whose shades
Are like ostriches from the pebbles of the rugged ground.

15. They breathe from the pain in their shoulders and chests
Foam they have mixed with blood.

16. How many a noble company whose chief has prospered it
And left its companion in the abode of misery!

17. The enemies will never attain our ancient glories
Until they attain the stars of Gemini.

18. How much beauty in Lujaym is there like the dawn
Splitting the darkness of night!

19. Or like the pampered whose steeds return not
Except with spoils though they are not driven.

20. A sea encircling its shores with armor
Until the north wind of every winter dies.

21. And when tested the crossing of spears, then breasts
Return thirsty with thought.

22. The mildew of cloaks is like a camel wrapped
In an `asim garment of sheep wool.

23. Indeed, we have found our weapons to be nothing but
The stones of el-Akam, and not canes of the pliant.

24. They lodge in the rings of polished swords and every
Quiver inclining toward every prayer.

25. And we certainly raided at dawn a raid
Until we met our women with women.

26. Those are our mounts, and above our lives
Are the white armed, fully adorned.

27. They were extended from a tribe as if its brilliance
Were a towering wave above the backs of ostriches.

28. The spears protect a sanctuary for us, all of it,
And make lawful after the battlegrounds of struggle.

29. Indeed, swords give us protection and we give them protection,
Each protecting with honor and caution.

30. They do not decline, nor do we repel their limits
From the border of every silent battalion.

31. Our swords, in the ranks, work
Like burning in dry timber.