1. Tell the prisoner of the lance Al-Rudaini
Wearing the Indian cloak

2. Lay down your weapon, have you been told of courage
In a polished stirrup or Al-Rudaini?

3. What is the state of a body you carried weapons with
While you are too weak to carry Al-Qubati?

4. I will get to know the Adim fabric Al-Sabiri
If it was not woven in Al-Sabiri fabric Al-Madhi

5. Without it souls waver and hopes
Melt and fantasies mislead

6. I dared him during his anger
In Al-Abqari or the Yemeni brigade

7. So who is like me fully armored
Billowing over Al-Khusrawani cloak

8. So I flee and Ash-Shair disgraces his folk
Do not think Kul Al-Azdi are heroic

9. I do not fear his tyranny or warnings
He has unforgotten scores with me

10. I love him while the dusky morning star admonishes me
And the heart makes excuses, full of my apology

11. When his Destrier neighs proudly
Marvel at whatever patterns and traces you wish

12. From the people of Bahram Jur in his feats
Whatever you wish of Farsi Nawbahari

13. Secure, he stepped not on a branch, stumbled not
Over a pole, stood not on Al-Bardi crutch

14. He only prances in his thoroughbred
Tubai, abundantly-watered Saluqi

15. The lion of the brigade, while eyes watch him
And the Pleiades in the gloomy night

16. He only talks about his superior horses
Ujai, noble Jarad, or Sarih

17. Or a solid-hoofed, balanced Murani
Or Firandi cane, made of rods, Hari

18. Or about a warrior, horsemen and a battle
And listening posts, falcons and Baz

19. So if tomorrow you see him more resembling a hawk
Than me - a cat flitting confusedly

20. You will find him a poet and eloquent adversary
Of diverse rhyming prose, his riddles guarded

21. Like the flashing blade brandished in his hand
And his fierce Destrier - Al Qutami

22. Seeking my response through his discernment
But none responds to him like simpletons

23. One who does not pride himself on Al-Ta’i in an era
Nor Al-Khaza’i in the age of Khuza’a

24. Nor even Al-Farazdaq, though fame is his
Nor Jarir, nor Ar-Ra’i An-Numayri

25. Rather takes pride in Al-Fahl Al-Fahm the supreme
In poetry, or Amr Ibn Kulthum Al-Murari

26. Does not compete with Ibn Al-Habbab, nor
Jadhl Al-Ta’an, nor Imru’ Al-Qays

27. Rather sees himself as Shayban - horsemen of ‘Atab
And Dumat prostrated to him

28. Recently bedouin, not claiming a land
Nor ancestry to claim a lineage

29. One accustomed only to the shade of a swaying abode
Or a racing saddle, or an Eid caravan

30. The people scorn the uncouth stranger
Ask him not about his puzzles

31. His arrogance blames the region’s horsemen
Especially the discerning souls among them

32. Savage in his honor, gentle in his nobility
Wild yet sociable - such is he!

33. More gentle than a flowing spring, though you addressed
Above his head an ignorant Qahtani!

34. It is not odd that the Iraqi meaning comes to him
Through the Hijazi expression uncorrupted

35. Every female ancestor converged upon him
So he is ascribed to none in particular

36. The nomad tents monopolized him
He was not left to city dwellers

37. The nursing she-wolves reared him
Every Darur, abundant in pasture, fed him

38. So he grew when he did, straight like a Khati
And came when he did, like fierce Qutami

39. Praise God! Lofty in opinion, claiming ancestry
To Al‘Ulaa, Wa’ili in origin, Muri!

40. Shi’i if the Bakr tribes claimed orthodoxy
You will not find a man of letters who is not Shi’i!

41. Who reformed the Far Maghrib, without literature,
Besides Shi’ism and the Hanafi religion?

42. They did not disregard you, appointing you their threshold
Of all they discerned would ferment the witches

43. You ignored their harm to avoid their reach
So you would not converse intimately with their wishes

44. They are the last people that would disobey
Or even intend to commit indecency!

45. Yet you left them once their tongues were sated
With wicked words, like the lips of fallen women!

46. You were called to battle, so you came
As Al-Shawl brought to the vigorous stud

47. As if the rings of armor were
Studded nails on a resin-coated quiver

48. You came to them discordant voiced, courageous
There the peaks like ostrich eggs Dahi

49. The blade ever haughtier than their arrogant souls
The men stauncher than the unbroken staffs

50. Until they became like prey chased into ravines
Bloodied and taken captive

51. And captives bound to stakes, humbled
Torn between life and death

52. As if their hands were shackled at every touch
Like the hands of skilled archers

53. You assaulted them rolled up in their sleeves
Like lions leaping in vengeful chase

54. As they avoid the scorching heat in the afternoon
Their destinies miserable and wretched

55. The men then conquered them, after beholding
On the pulpits - withered, faded majesty!

56. They more deserved, then more deserved than a trusted
Brother, pleased with God, fruitful in effort, agreeable!

57. Seeking with well-aimed piercing arrows
And a skilled horseman, no mere archer!

58. Then inquire no more of his enemies; suffice you
A discharged arrow of God’s barrage!

59. Fate flows as He intends, so cease your toil
Fate is unchecked, unrestrained!

60. He seized wisdom until his inner thoughts
Ordained him an undecided matter

61. He maneuvers fate, forbids and commands it
Thus is his fate - between obeyed and defied!

62. And you will not find beneath his hearts and souls
Except steeds like the Iraqi breed!

63. Excellent in the days of war, aware,
In calamities clever, knowing what will transpire!

64. A pillar indeed of their state
And a bond of the Hanafi religion!

65. While all the bared swords are lies
He is the one who truly bares steel!

66. By God - the sword of Dhuʼl-Faqar does not compare
Nor rival the resolute ancestral principles!

67. They did not disregard what hostility Shi’ism contains
Danger of Ash-Shariya, or might of Ash-Shari!

68. And how it humbles the adamantly hostile
And counters the Ibadi religion!

69. And how it struggles against those tribulations
Brandishing the sword through those marshes!

70. You were compensated for that fearsome outpost
Leaving it with the heights, truly sufficient!

71. An atmosphere you found ungroomed for a guide
Unguarded without an escort!

72. The land therein hollow, devoid of settlers
The people savage, unherded!

73. They sought no aid of an unsheathed sword
Took no resolute step of consequence!

74. You revived barren land, no life remaining
Rebuilt ruins, no trace rebuilt!

75. You secured its wealth when it declined
Saving taxes beyond fees!

76. You protected it from what no hand protected
Except yours, from every shepherd then flock!

77. After a wall was erected, insecure
Revenue wasted, tribute abandoned!

78. Who dares fan flames you ignite?
Such is the terrible blaze of Ar-Ruhawi!

79. Or humiliate giants you debase?
Al-Ajadil glory loftier than Al-Kiraki!

80. What battle day do I praise you, when
Mudhaki has praised you during fires?

81. You planted the spear between the clouds and
Brought down your standard amidst the shields!

82. Jahm Al-Muhayya’s life ransoms yours the day
He meets blame without ransom to redeem!

83. From each apathetic soul, conscience uncleansed
Clad with honor not robust, feeble!

84. Let no man with hearing or vision neglect you!
For you are the most noble seen and heard!

85. You overlook sin at times, so I reckon
You doubt the fairest Taimi clemency!

86. I never expected time to court me
With a Hatem in the dark, other than Ta’i!

87. If the Murra tribe prays upon you, then not
Kab Al-Ayad upon the Ayadi tribe!

88. To you belong all nobleness, its canopy spanned
The home of Shayban, its stakes fastened!

89. I do not compare you to Shayban, though you surpassed
What they gathered, but you are to me Kul Rab’i!

90. No - Rabīʿah and confederates of Mudar
No - you are Kul Tihami and Najdi!

91. No - the straps of your sandals are Adnan
No - you alone to me are Kul Insi!