1. I stayed awake while the worst kind of care is disturbing anxiety
As if I were a captive walking alongside sleep, tied up

2. Remembering Salma or a comrade urging his friends
When the wine was scarce, saying "Spend!"

3. He kindles the brightness of the cup when it lights up
Ancient sealed Babylonian wine

4. Drinking asks "What malady has befallen him?
Is it madness of jinn or has pure wine intoxicated him?"

5. He dies and comes back to life again from its yet unclear effect
And he cannot speak plainly, his tongue tied up

6. And Salma was amazed that Salma is as if
A radiant houri from the place of tears

7. He called her to enjoy the shade, shading her gazelle
A blossoming lotus tree sheltering from the heat

8. Sometimes acting sympathetic and sometimes
She almost pierces from passion but does not neglect

9. And her ornaments have a temptation about her when she walks
As a twig sways in the summer breeze

10. If she kills you, her victim does not pay blood money
She is mirthful, loving, and passionate

11. She smiles showing bright white teeth as if
She were blossoms smiling from the meadow

12. As though scent of musk is above her teeth
And camphor of Dari, diffusing fragrance

13. If she becomes angry, the doves in the dovecote will not appease her
And if he dies, the confined pigeons will not benefit

14. She will be as if she gave you a promise like
A star swiftly disappearing if you fall out of her love

15. So her enemies separated her from me and her alienation
Became an endless longing that consumes me

16. The enemy and the friend alike said
“True is the poetry of Naabighah Al-Dhubyani”

17. Therefore the minds of reasonable, God-fearing men prevail
And whoever fears not God is a fool

18. People have various passions - their concerns
Sometimes gather and sometimes disperse

19. And crops resemble their origin:
They were created diverse, some wise and some stupid

20. Therefore one who is silent will not slip by his tongue
One who is forbearing leads rightly while an ignorant one trips up

21. And if my enemies rejoice at my demise
There is none to save me from death, not even a protector

22. The most vicious person with grudges that you see is as though
Whenever I recite my poetry, he is being strangled

23. He did not excuse me for insulting except
That ones like me make mistakes and get soaked in sweat

24. I substituted the beautiful qualities of Salma
With pictures like scattered pearl dust - or even worse

25. Her chastity surpassed spirits flowing through her
And the dust of dry earth covered the surface of her grave

26. A change in weather, clouds amassing, churning,
The color changing from green to yellow to glistening white

27. Lightning flashing - a fleeting glow resembling
What shone on a dusky steed, very quick

28. Bearing heavy burdens while being inundated by water
Their wicks extinguished if lamps tilt over

29. Its rooms seem to have lost their corners
And look like a polished Indian sword or a burning desert

30. The south wind and breeze made its dates decay,
Some shrivel while others remain juicy

31. It washes away high ground never flooded before
And cleaves solid rock, bursting forth generously

32. It watered after barren ground: plains and salt marshes
Tabuk and Ruwaqa were watered by it

33. All Al-Butheeri mountains became
Not a thread remained unsogged

34. When it separated over the abode its poles collapsed
Then heavy torrents came from its cloud downpour

35. When its strength weakened it could no longer stand
The north wind toppled it, crushing it down

36. Among its ruins are traces of forgotten encampments
Its dawn is brightened by flower illumination

37. Nothing left but ruins with gazelles frolicking around them
And acacia trees shedding its ripe fruit to the ground

38. Desolate remains like an abandoned chicken coop
Filled with eggs scattered in the meadow

39. It leads the filled water skins when its plumage grows
A twittering francolin and "Niqniq" sandgrouse

40. It almost ties its neck if touched so delicate
Its coated wings, blue and fragile

41. Their chicks differ - some fully feathered while others incomplete
So half of them are stolen away in their creation

42. Birds always cooing as if they spend nights
Gathering with jinn repeating "halhalah"

43. You see the bulls' wrath defending access
Each equipped with a weapon, polished and sharp

44. The pregnant camels lead the herd early in the day
When driven back in the afternoon they are quick and alert

45. With some staring wildly exerting great effort
Behind the rear they have weapons and gear attached

46. When they turn around their bellies appear like swords
Removed from scabbards - polished and gleaming

47. Pregnant she camel wobbles carrying heavy loads
While each step barely avoids tripping over

48. If stampeded they race like an escaping
Ghassanid beloved set free from bondage

49. And she once was thin, so pregnancy took its toll,
She returned fat - her meat soaked with grease

50. When her robe is removed two thin weaklings emerge
Humbled and disheveled, heads bowed down

51. And milk that seems to have oil floating over its cream
If the horses taste it, the fastest among them win the race

52. So I gathered short-tailed sheep, some
Too feeble to carry the weight of swords

53. To a dinner mat which - rather than feathers - has rags
And a stomach so perforated it might tear

54. I endure with the lack of water angering me
Almost ripping apart from exertion

55. So I blamed myself the day her reply was delayed
My eyes full of tears profusely flowing

56. Thunderously from earth fearing evil
Haughtily disregarding ties of kinship

57. Its trails swept by tail winds of change
So no wild animal will have a place therein

58. Oh withering corpse whose bones
When exhumed appear then disappear from sight

59. As though the patches of its skin if gathered
Would be sufficient leather to perfectly cover it

60. On a blazing day heated stones bursting into flames
With deadly poison - its hellish sun

61. The surface of hilltops crack from its scorching heat
When the winds relent not and its raging continues

62. Darkness overwhelms it with lightning strikes
Desert ruins as though struck

63. By nails producing sparks bursting forth
Stained in blood yet noble prize

64. The elite bull took its pick one by one
The rest are pregnant sheep selected then confiscated

65. Wide sturdy shoulders like a goblet, grooved and polished
Mouth agape ready to clamp up and bite

66. A hollow skull as if its secrets and thoughts
Vanished leaving bare teeth and a shriveled beard

67. Eyes like antimony removing impurities if blinked
With thick lashes and arched eyebrow

68. Blushing cheeks beautifying the face of a delicate female idol
As though a fox left its covert under the red skin

69. Clearly visible thin lips from the bristles surrounding it
Highlighted by a few soft facial hairs

70. Sipping like camel's foot alternately resting
Then slaughtering prey captured in its grip

71. Its cannons float with visible forearms looking like
Ghassanid arches fully drawn and tightened

72. Sturdy and robust like a tower between her shoulders and hips
Held together by a solid tightly constructed frame

73. Twisting with a fleshy tail as though it were
Unripe fruits on a green palm tree newly sprouted

74. When it moves its ankles rapidly in circular motion
Speeding up to overtake pulled by strong ropes

75. Becoming more stubborn to control when fully dressed
Then getting tame losing touch after undressed

76. Tossing gently swaying as though it were a
Ghassanid beloved set free from bondage

77. As though oil floats above its cream so delicious
The fastest horses race if they get the first taste