1. From passion have I wept and memory of friends
Yet for fate's passions yours would be recall

2. A dwelling lies in ruins after loved ones' loss
The home of life seems desolate and bare

3. Save for the oryx none is left and only eyes
Of ostrich in its darkness take their share

4. Midst all the desert stretches in the hills
Opposed we see encamping grounds laid bare

5. Ruinous lodgings lacking company
Like tracks of steeds where followers' marks are there

6. And naught remains save traces of abodes
Worn down by Arya's winds and choking air

7. Each fallen wall appears a remnant heap
As if the rest were razed and left threadbare

8. The bushes bristle like a bird whose plumes
Are ruffled by the winds which strew them there

9. The smoking hearths blaze on the open plain
Like burning coal pits glowing here and there

10. A playground crossed by writhing adders' path
Crumbles whene'er the serpents twist and tear

11. Bright bubbles glisten in the dawn but youth
Like fleeting morn soon disappear and fare

12. Though we recalled it, custom was struck dumb
Its eloquence mere lexicons threadbare

13. Patience was best so we withdrew, whilst tears
Streamed freely down and flowed beyond control

14. My camel lurched as she increased her pace
Her easiest gait compared to headlong roll

15. I said unto my friend "Let's drink wine's cheer
My mournful mood and grieving to console"

16. He waved his wineskin flashingly but we
Could not await him though our grief take toll

17. On lances' leather buttons hardship worked
Roaming and travel wearing through their whole

18. Their tent-pegs shod with cotton tufts that hung
Like feathers disarrayed by arrows' toll

19. From camel litters comes a whistling wind
As when the falcons swoop upon their goal

20. The others coil on every branch and bough
As arrows speed unerring to their goal

21. The herald promised us good news but lo
Ere it arrived disaster took its toll

22. On a hot day the camels' bellow rent the air
"No halt" they said "the goal cannot console"

23. The women cried "To Najd, away!" and then
The dusty tempest rose in murky scroll

24. The warriors donned their coats of mail and all
In flooded torrents surged beyond control

25. When after days of journeying we reached
White pastures where the cattle freely stroll

26. We talked together and the tents proclaimed
Tales of lost wealth and ravage taking toll

27. Ransomed for dowries, wrongs to us they wrought
Like necklaces on which the pearls off roll

28. They mixed unwholesome gossip but then slipped
Like fiery coal-stones down the braziers' hole

29. When the encampment rose within the plain
Bright bubbles thronged like locusts in their shoal

30. I asked "Is this a gift or guests now come?"
Both hold a place within the chief's control

31. The dainty gifts of Ma'ddi folk once seen
Today no longer stir the spirit's soul

32. If I say ruins have been reconstructed
They gape again, for time will take its toll

33. So too the mischief-makers if empowered
Will work their will, corruption is their goal

34. Where are the chiefs of Quraysh, their dreams?
Illusions lost, they vanish beyond control

35. Our chiefs are shepherds guarding us their flock
Without their care the wolves would take their toll

36. If Quraysh follow not the righteous path
No Arab tribe their footsteps will extol

37. By God's grace they excel through patience, strength
Disdain and scorn for any hostile soul

38. My people! Let's unite and gain from all
The past may teach, events we can't control

39. Did not disunity destroy Kisra's host?
From Ctesiphon they fled beyond control

40. The sea divided for Moses' followers
Whilst Pharaoh and his minions met their goal

41. How many generations have passed on
Then perished, ruins only they patrol!

42. No dynasty endures which does not fall
Only the Highest King survives life's shoal

43. I warn you of the folk of Noah's fate
A widespread nation, populous and whole

44. To God he offered thanks and worship owed
To Him belong all majesty and laud's control

45. But when God willed it, though the heathen raged
No man's estate can circumvent His goal

46. The oven's lord called Noah, then unleashed
Upon the rebels torrents harsh and dour

47. They clamoured loudly as the flood approached
But none escape what God's decreed to roll

48. The waters rose in overwhelming spate
As if unleashed were floods with chaos frore

49. The Ark moved onward by God's high design
Else mountains and their peers had proved too small

50. To Judi's mount, until it turned to stone
Arrived the deluge and misfortune fell

51. Instruction and wisdom this contains, but I
Am one who boasts of youth whilst in its throes

52. A youth who drives his steeds through every slave
None can evade when warriors' tempers boil

53. Those loyal to the Merciful gain victory
Their flowing tears like hissing arrows volley

54. When the fierce lions claw and roar in wrath
None can approach, all flee beyond control

55. Advance! For us are justice and fair shares
Our swords seal mouths that slander and revile

56. If kinship to us is your claim, no shame
Rests upon you, all honour we extol

57. Our father was the horsemen's noble knight
His palm the reins and glory's weapons toil

58. Of all our treasures, finest were the steeds
Stallions and mares like lions in their moil

59. We inherited the horses, known to Ma'add
Our choice of them befitting to our soil

60. From our forefather Sidq and Ayyad's line
'Iylan's, whose gifts like rain clouds roil and boil

61. Cutting off plunder, all of us brought gain
The finest portions for us to despoil

62. Thus we excelled, whilst Mudar's sons despaired
Our rivals choked on envy and turmoil

63. To us and Mudar's clan came fortune's grace
Whilst foes on trails were left naught but the spoil

64. Honour and glory are within our reign
Flags raised aloft, our giants in their toil

65. Amongst us came the prophets, kings of might
Rulers of nations who our ranks have joined

66. With grace we conquered nations in this world
And hope hereafter grace shall us rejoin

67. After God's judgement, Ishmael decides
Our rights, when fear and discord are purloined

68. My judgement upon ignoramuses spurned
Lights wisdom's path no doubts can undermine

69. Of Ma'add's party, Quda'a followed suit
Lesser than Tubba's realm in its turmoil

70. They cast off refuse of Ma'add's tribes
Misfortune favouring those they would despoil

71. Qahtan's tribes you shun in your remote and gloom
No triumph can you gain through this turmoil

72. Whoever makes you sole guest will find
Betrayal spreading from your wings in coil

73. To aid your distant kin brings ruin, whilst
Your cousin's inmost parts you dig and broil

74. No olive turns to date palm when the winds
Of Syria breathe, confusing the turmoil

75. No chickpeas change to raisins 'neath the heat
When from the cropper's store brought forth to boil

76. Nor will I suffer that my brother bow
To Yemen, whilst disgrace strikes Nizar's soil

77. The prey escape from Nizar and its chiefs
Whose claws leave naught but bones for them to spoil

78. When the north winds blow wildly in the night
Troubles and darkness come our lives to foil

79. Each day we learned to face undaunted, whilst
Others learned fear, distrustful in their turmoil

80. A man's promise held when spare time allows
No wells exist for it to flow and coil

81. Commander of the Faithful, you are guidance, light
Dispelling darkness, changing night to day uncoiled

82. You scolded Bani Ummaya from Quraysh
Refined elite whose glow the righteous tendered loyal

83. Abdulmalik brought the poor relief and strength
A refuge whose assault cannot be foiled

84. The caliphate he then assumed from hands
Of Marwan's son, solid as mountains' stony coil

85. I said to Thul Kala and Thul Ra'n
"Does talk of asses or of bulls our thoughts beguile?"

86. After long centuries Quda'a pretends
In shifting time none can their tricks foil

87. Bunjala's son Namara spoke in verse
But when the reckoning comes has no turmoil

88. When will you ride in fright of piebalds
As slander's market for your lies is freshly oiled?

89. Our refuge is the sword when we draw near
And sparks of kindling strike the fuel bringing boil

90. Our blows are such the blind can see their flash
Whilst sighted ones see nothing through night's murky broil

91. You know that Isaac, he's our brother, brings
The winds of blessing in his seasons' gentle toil

92. We shake Al-Musharrafiyah then spring forth
No lame deer we, escaping from the trial