1. Tell my friend Abd al-Hind, though you are not very far
From the village of Khusus, running parallel

2. To al-Furah or a little less,
Not so far from the abode of thieves,

3. Where you can pluck ripe fruit whenever you wish
And drink fermented sap from the trunks of the Qasils trees,

4. Hunted by horses and trapped by birds,
Never bored by the pleasures of the hunt.

5. Eat what you want and drink it too
As red as the skins of foxes.

6. When troubles come, Abd disappears
And avoids the thorns.

7. Do not let the joy of the wine cup
And the girls with anklets make you forget me.

8. You are true to your word
And avoid the lies of smooth-tongued deceivers.

9. Abd, do you remember me sometimes
When with a group on an expedition or raid?

10. When they dismount to rest, I call out greetings
That rise above the din.

11. The laggard may still get his share of luck,
And earnest toil does not guarantee success.

12. So do not always doubt me—
I have not abandoned or forgotten you.

13. Curb your soul, do not abuse
Men of pride—patience seldom lasts forever.

14. Would that I knew, rich as I am,
When I’ll see a cup pass round a small party.

15. A cool room, its shade filled
With mountain cows and wild pigs.

16. The blind watchman with his stick
Walks around slowly, pacing himself.

17. The scent of musk, ambergris, aloes wood
Comes from his armpits, he needs no perfume.

18. The drunken cupbearer is given to drink
The freshest greenest wine.

19. Better than the shackles by the door
And two chains round the feet.

20. The braying of a donkey mounting a she-donkey,
Turning away on a Friday at a loom.

21. It thinks nothing of selling or loading,
Or making a saddened heart happy.

22. Or vultures gathered around dead men together
Feeding on pieces of scattered corpses.