1. Have you met me in the meadows of Rayyan,
Or encountered me in the pastures of cattle and gazelles?

2. I did not say "welcome" after life, O Talal,
Nor did I give drink after the pastures, O son of Banu.

3. If they became copious, it was out of generosity and compassion,
Or if they grieved, it was out of kindness and sorrow.

4. Their souls followed the caravan bidding farewell
To it, with yearning and longing.

5. Bidding the caravan farewell as it departed
Until the caravan rested at a place of hills and dunes.

6. As if their ghosts were ships sailing
Among its valleys when the spectres emerged.

7. They leaned towards the sins of the valley, tempted
By the two valleys, both twisting and winding.

8. They found us shelter in Jairun, which amazed them,
That there are no people of Jairun to give shelter.

9. They endured the intensity wherever heat burned
And wherever the heart burned hot.

10. They reckoned that Najran had married them
Yet where are the camels of 'Is to be found in Najran?

11. By God, many a lost guide in the desolate place
Seeking its dunes while perplexed.

12. No scout found a trace there,
Nor did a wolf or oryx trespass it.

13. I do not know it before seeing it clearly
Until I realized that clarity is knowledge.

14. A house time has ruined after it flourished,
Its walls wrecked and its pits caved in.

15. Not everything called "bounty" is bountiful,
Nor everything called "Naiman" pleasant.

16. My tears help me while my brethren forsake me,
And tears are help when supporters betray.

17. People are brethren as long as time is a brother,
But when wealth is little, brethren are few.

18. If time wanted to make man a trusted brother,
Time would lack among men a human.

19. Whether sleeplessness keeps the eyelids awake
Or age makes the eyelids and teeth fall out,

20. It was jealous until when the breeze passed by it
So how would it be if passion had whispered to others?

21. Do not think the affairs of man are one,
For each day has its own events.

22. If I wore the garb of old age,
I had stripped off my youth while still growing.

23. I used to be like a well-groomed young camel,
Frolicking in my meadows when ravens cawed.

24. Best are the white hairs if they had remained
For color changed after the white hairs.

25. I used to conceal them in my head, hiding,
As if hiding something spread could be concealed.

26. Their hidden affair had gone to reveal them
So how can one conceal what is already exposed?

27. The people of lofty tents that shone bright
With hospitality fires in the darkness.

28. As if the guest in their dwellings rules
Whose command is obeyed while the owner is equal.

29. Rather, they see the guest's comfort a gain
As if they are themselves guests of the guest.

30. The hostile when their neighbor is humbled,
The generous when benevolence is honored.

31. The riders when their resolute steeds walked with them
And the earth is a carpet.

32. The owners of the mighty tyrant in his greatness,
And those who leave him in littleness while he is disgraced.

33. They have excelled so they became honored in their dwellings,
When the tribes excelled while they are humiliated.

34. They do not speak ill of others nor
Do their ears turn to dishonor.

35. The family of Harb adorned their rule like a crown,
And they are the source of pride's turban.

36. They donned white Tirick and wore white
For war, and their sleeves are shirts.

37. The excess cloth of his shirt drags behind him
As the train of a gown drags flickering.

38. Apprehensive, his gaze never tastes sleep,
The wolf of the hotheaded, ever alert and awake.

39. Where then are 'Adnan, and the living ones of Modhar?
O that the ruddy camels of 'Is and 'Adnan would come!