1. Stop, O hyenas, ere we part,
No farewell can soothe my aching heart,

2. Stay, and heed your captor's plea,
For our clans can never agree,

3. When such sacrilege they wrought,
Defiling all that honor taught,

4. Does it not bring you pain,
That Qais and Taghlib now are twain?

5. Their bonds of kinship rent apart,
Leaving bitterness in my heart,

6. They heed the rabble's lawless call,
And nothing good can come to all,

7. My sons - Nizar's blood their craving sated,
Their wounds ever raw and aggravated,

8. Like fractured bones that ache anew,
And begin to split in two,

9. So this flood burst its banks in spate,
Engulfing ones who lie in wait,

10. I hoped this feud would someday wane,
And calm replace hot wrath and pain,

11. I dreamed that on the battlefield,
Our champions would shine revealed,

12. Their steeds, careering as in chain,
Like stallions of Nejd's dusty plain,

13. Our warriors dealing blow on blow,
Till blood in streams began to flow,

14. Their hands imploring from the fray,
Grappling in mortal combat's way,

15. With lances stabbing left and right,
Plucked out with main and matchless might,

16. As if all people sons of one mother,
While we, for unknown faults to smother,

17. Bared our blades in naked strife,
Ending valued kinship's life,

18. Every tribe surveying from afar,
Our feud - unwilling peacemakers,

19. We stood, while of the living none,
Saw their star shine as brightly as our own,

20. Like wildfire we would blaze a while,
Then smolder, ere we flared awhile,

21. Do not let Nizar's blood be shed,
Or resignation bow your head,

22. Matters, if considered by the wise,
Would curb this deed that you devise,

23. But souls, when shorn of all control,
Let skill give way to their dark goal,

24. To spurn a caring kinsman's will,
But multiplies the coming ill,

25. The best course now left to your choice,
Is not to heed the rabble's voice,

26. That is the way I've always found,
While others chase what wears no crown,

27. Ask the learned about our fame,
Our battle-glory and acclaim,

28. Of all Arabia's tribes the strongest,
Taghlib's defense had proved the longest

29. In days of yore we were the first,
On Nu'man's realms our raid to burst,

30. We turned the hounds on Tamim's holdings,
An army fit for swallowing.

31. Yet no cowardice we showed,
But gave measure for measure meted,

32. Tayy's men, when our ranks them greeted,
Sought shelter behind each barricade,

33. Of Kalb's pack, we carried fire,
To their coasts, and every byre,

34. Those who Thawr's protection underwent,
Rich spoils from you they got unspent,

35. Ungrateful, after cheating death,
And gifts of hundred camels breathed,

36. By your hands saved when feet did slip,
Else despair would have sealed my fate,

37. Little of manners I'd learned as yet,
Or noble deeds for guidance set,

38. None of equal bounty I have seen,
As you, what time you stepped between,

39. Of fair visage, Banu Nufayl,
Whose nature knows but to prevail,

40. You of Qaram, who to Ma'add taught
Generosity exceeding thought,

41. You of Hawazin's towering height,
Guiding travelers in desert flight,

42. Qazafeh, passing with your train,
While your folk find no restful plain,

43. You cut through mountains standing tall,
Parting their summits like a shawl,

44. Your blow, O Shadkam, could avail,
Should the camel stall when trails did fail,

45. You of Ayran, who did impel,
The herd with blow that nothing could quell,

46. You were first to meet the attack,
Of ravening wolves along their track,

47. When you drove them back to the plain,
They followed with flowing trail again,

48. Years passed while the herd came of age,
And people sought the autumn stage,

49. We resolved the weaklings to present,
To strengthen those that journey meant,

50. When the sleek fat covered them o'er,
Like lions that sheepfolds explore,

51. I ordered my men - take them along,
Little we guessed they'd prove so strong,

52. When Tayyaz tried his muscles' might,
His grip availed not, to our plight!

53. Which hero now could take the lead,
When strong men failed in direst need?

54. Scarce were they back within the fold,
Ere their bellowing made blood run cold,

55. They trotted gently as we prayed,
Their pace no headache's throb allayed,

56. As if our mounts all were set free,
Gorged on rich pastures greedily,

57. A savage beast foaled in the wild,
Her tender offspring undefiled,

58. Wailed as it perished in the brake,
Torn by the jaws of beasts that slake,

59. Their hunger on such gentle prey,
She circled it before away

60. She turned, vengeance her only dream,
Raising a cloud of dust and steam,

61. The hyenas bolted in their lairs.
As she pursued them unawares,

62. Her hooves kicked up the glowing brands,
Such pain as no hyena withstands,

63. Like a long whip of Sabrah's kin,
Lent a garment, her neck to pin,

64. Nor did the ravening creatures scare,
Portentous Anbas, gaunt and spare,

65. I saw the resolve in his eye,
Though clouds and hilltops filled the sky,