1. My friends, turn away in anger for an hour, then blame
What time has brought about or scattered.

2. Do not despair - life is indeed miserable.
So fear the terrors of events or accept them.

3. If something comes that you cannot repel,
Do not despair over what Allah has decreed - be patient.

4. Do you not see that regret is of little use
When something is over and done?

5. Tears and remorse will not change a thing
Other than what was predestined.

6. I came to the Messenger of Allah when he brought guidance
And recited a scripture like a shining star.

7. My friends, I have encountered what you have not,
And journeyed in life as you have not.

8. I am reminded, and yearning stirs the lover,
And the sorrowful need to remember.

9. I regret it now with al-Munzir ibn Muharraq -
I see their land today laid barren.

10. Elders and youths alike, their faces
Like golden dinars from Caesar's land.

11. And I continued to roam between door and tent
In Najran until I feared I would adopt Christianity,

12. With a king of the Jafnah clan whose uncle
And grandfather were of the line of Imru' al-Qays.

13. He passes us the cup and roast meat,
Sharing equally with the Hadrami in his prestigious attire,

14. A Hanif Iraqi and a Shami commoner,
And a perfume merchant from Darin's musk.

15. Wandering over it is the weaving of a sick wind
That cuts through arid mountains.

16. Withering, scorched, hastening the leaves to fall
After adorning them, complaining in sighs and bitterness.

17. It crosses the valley of al-Sarim like an echo,
Bringing it out from time to time though it appears hidden.

18. Like a lone panther's lair, of hot temper,
That slept at Dhi'l Dhibain in summer while pregnant.

19. So the midnight blue Atlas robe turned pale on it,
Stingy, as the Nabataeans call it Nahasir.

20. Tall of build, smooth-sided, stubborn,
With jaws clenched tight and neck twisted back.

21. With a belly like a shield - if disemboweled it would reveal
A yellow stomach however much you stirred its contents.

22. So it lasted three days, night and day,
As if its stinginess were the folds of a cloak,

23. At the top of a hill in the outskirts of the sands,
Glittering like the shining Dog Star.

24. While darkness below it sank in distress.
The dew was flowing in its cheeks as if

25. An escapee from its course came trickling down.
And a doe, marked by locust bites, I saw it

26. Guarantee to a master who dismissed the police chief.
With hooves split like a Yemeni sword, powerful-sided,

27. Scraping the rib of a smooth-haired hyena if it straightened up.
Moving like Mars in its fury, stirred up by it

28. Was the left side of the Abadis in the wind, to the north.
It leaves the carcass of the black crow, its flesh

29. Built up like a coffin, tightly fastened.
When the fodder was not enough to fill its flesh,

30. I reduced the barley and hay to make it leaner.
I drove it on, calling it by name

31. And reining it in gently until it relaxed and saw clearly.
It continued pursuing them as if its plunging

32. Were a Nabataean bird diving steeply.
I prod its cheeks with the piercing spear, leading

33. The choicest steeds that Thursday brought together.
With a neck set in a shoulder not leaning sideways

34. And cheeks sucked in, turning away in retreat.
With a belly like an inverted shield - if disemboweled

35. Its stomach would be left yellow however much it was stirred.
So it stopped the first gray-haired mares, the lead horses,

36. Driving them back from the front line.
It was loosed into deep gloom as if the snorting

37. Of snakes were hastened into stonehood.
With cheekbones hollow as sieves, its snorting

38. When herded in summer was like a trumpet at dawn, buzzing.
With fine manners - our enemies speak well of us,

39. Then poorly, while we speak fairly.
Of all the Arab groups I have not found

40. A tribe more protective, helpful, and supportive,
That marries foreign women taken captive

41. Or seeking selection, more than us,
That turns away sooner than us if we want to leave

42. And is readier with breastplates and leather coats,
More deserving not to abandon a companion of theirs

43. To wander in irons, shackled,
More deserving not to abandon an ounce of dignity,

44. Even if their cloak be greener,
Quda'ah had recognized some features in us

45. So they became the gatherers of pine in Busra.
While Kindah resided at al-Aqiq,

46. And Nahd, so we thoroughly defeated them.
Kinanah was between mountain and sea, their abode,

47. So it was confined when it found none remaining.
As for us, we struck the clan of Darim

48. And Hassaan, and Ibn al-Jaun with a terrible blow.
On the way to Dhi'l-Nakhla we caught up with

49. Alqamah al-Ja'fi when dawn broke its fast.
We struck the bellies of horses until they reached

50. The two chiefs of Bani Shayban, 'Amr and Munzir.
We let Madhhij's steeds race back after

51. We showed it the morning star with the dawn.
The destriers raced there after their bellies

52. Had been irrigated by the red blood of the insides.
And after a lion led many old ones astray

53. At the call of a raven one day he strayed.
On the day of the raid, the colors of our horses change

54. From the stabbing until you would think the bay was blond.
We are a people who do not train our horses

55. When we meet to shy away and take fright.
Nor was it known for us to turn them back

56. Unharmed or strange for them to be lamed.
But we reached high glory, generosity and elevation

57. And we still hope for more prominence.
Every stretch of sea has seen our swords

58. Strike its shores that have green depth.
By my life, I warned Azd's settlements

59. To reflect on my dreams and consider:
I ignored them for a period and left them

60. To find excuse with my Lord and be excused.
I did not speak until insult reached my clan -

61. Nufayl bin ‘Amr, al-Wahid, and Ja’far.
Far from Abu Bakr’s life! None can match him

62. When matters reach a serious impasse.
There is no good in ignorance if it has no

63. Forbearing one when matters worsen.
There is no good in forbearance if it has no

64. Initiatives to guard its purity from murk.
So forbearance is better than many things,

65. And ignorance is sometimes better when it is unavoidable.
Thus is life - one day or another - so recognize

66. The bad and the good - no, the bad is more.
If the Azdi boasts one day, say to him:

67. Hold back, for Allah will not let you boast.
If you seek the heights, you are not worthy of them.

68. If you extend your hands in glory, you fall short.
When the Azdi plots, he plots like a thief,

69. So he wakes up blamed with an excusable blame.
If you want the heights, you are not suited for them,

70. And if you stretch out your hands in glory, you are inadequate.
When the Azdi acts crafty, he acts like a thief,

71. So he wakes as one blamed, with an excusable blame.