1. Alas! I wonder, did they spend a night in Sa'd
When its people departed, and Sa'd was devoid of joy?

2. Did the mounts of Anaq turn their necks toward the valley,
As Musayya marched on, and at dawn the valley overflowed?

3. Did the tribe beat the bushes for game
While branches of aloes were stirred by plaited braids?

4. I used to see valley and meadow from passion,
But today I have neither passion nor valley nor meadow.

5. Leave me alone about meadow and valley alike,
But I will wander when the army wanders.

6. I say to my companions 'Ayyash and Jabir,
As a towering obstacle parts me from them:

7. "Look toward the preserve today with a glance,
For tomorrow's morning is the appointed time."

8. When we saw how few people there were,
The mountains of sorrow turned away from us and were hidden by distance.

9. A reddish hill was like a mare of the tribe
To your eyes, among the kinfolk, when the morning appeared.

10. It reached the ignorant men, who were displeased with what had happened,
And he who was powerful could not restrain himself.