1. I knew the house though years have passed
Since Zainab frequented it, a graceful guest,

2. And winds effaced it, blowing grain by grain
As sifters scattering flour speck by speck.

3. The winds blew from it one day and bore away
Its flowing skirts and turned and strode again.

4. Leaving the tall acacias whispering
Like doves that moan with their complaints suppressed.

5. Remembering days gone by they sway and bend
As langorous, tired women when unloosed.

6. If you would ask of me, tell plainly all,
My lineage, that the truth be not disguised.

7. On both the mother's and the father's side
Our line ascends the genealogical tree

8. To where az-Zahir did his line indite
And trace his ancestry most perfectly.

9. To Ezra's son that was surnamed Dhu Yazan
The pedigree goes back, and there it ends.

10. We too inherit from great Jandal's fame
And hand our glory on as he bequeathed.

11. Wherever the Banu Muqbil set forth
We emigrated with them and pitched our tents.

12. It weeps remembering friends who turned away,
The courtyard mourns its devastation yet.

13. Upon that site we paused awhile and then
Moved on; and when we moved, we moved again.

14. Amid its precincts we left lush and green
A garden planted with grapes and figs.

15. Against time's changing we took arms in hand -
Stout lances, swords for all event unsheathed

16. And men whose trade is war and ever was
And men grown grey where battle fires had scorched.

17. The tribes of Muqbil point to us and say:
"These lead, where'er the march goes, vanguard they."

18. And say: "When comes the call, these men attack,
But when the foe calls truce, their rage holds back."

19. And say: "When trials for the tribe arise
These lift the tribe and stem the flood that nears."

20. And say: "For Muqbil's honour they uphold
Their hands in liberality nor fold."

21. Those hands with generosity endowed
By ancestors whose rule came down in line,

22. Who quail their enemies and on their friends
Bestow the fortune of the favorable stars.

23. When death sprang at us with its clashing arms
And from our failing eyes the light began to fade,

24. We grasped our spears in one last desperate bout
And where they lunged our weapons lunged again.

25. They drove the Abs from out their native earth,
Lords over tribes and arrogant in might.

26. Their own hands slew Ra'l the tribal head
As he was watering palms one eventide.

27. Repulsed was Tubba's cavalry at Qudaid
And they set out Iraqwards marching light.

28. The dwellings of the Kinanah gave place
After the Qatain to the Bani Eyaad.

29. One folk moves in when another moves along.
Men take some houses that they leave ere long.

30. While we drink water pure and undefiled
Another nation drinks a good mil mixed.