1. For Khawlah, there are ruins in dark Thahmad,
Appearing like remnants of tattoo on the back of a hand.

2. My friends stopped there with me, restraining their mounts,
Saying: "Do not destroy yourself with grief, be patient!"

3. As if the small ships of Mudar at dawn
Were coral necklaces on a yellow dress.

4. An Awdi ship or one of Ibn Yamani's,
With which a sailor sails for a while, then is guided.

5. It cleaves the water with its prow
As the continuous rain divides the softened soil.

6. In the district there is a lover, shedding tears
Like pearls and chrysolite on an oryx's back.

7. A gazelle grazing on an Anbari clover,
She stretches to pluck the tips of the Burayri.

8. Her smile shows no pain, as if
A gleaming coin pierced the hot sands.

9. The sun has watered only its permanence,
I wished it gone but did not blame it.

10. A face as if the sun donned its cloak on him -
Pure complexion unblemished by pox.

11. When I pass by the lovesick at the point of death,
I am distracted by a pacing she-camel trailing a litter.

12. She is like a plank of Arni wood, her middle bent,
Flanked by knees like camel litters tied firm.

13. Her thighs complete perfectly, as if
They are the gates of a well-guarded house.

14. The buttocks of a mare whose coat is washed,
While the thighs are like a bowl turned on its face.

15. As if they were baskets covering a stray partridge,
And the ribs of a bowed archer under mail.

16. Her sides where the fat lies are like steps
Of a staircase in a strongly-built wall.

17. Like the Roman bridge whose Lord swore
It would be covered until strengthened with lead.

18. Her shoulders are plump and far from the legs -
The hand cannot reach them.

19. I made her forearms long in a wide sleeve,
And raised her shoulders on high with supports.

20. As if the yellow climbings of a lizard
Were tracts on the back of a tanned leather.

21. And when she climbed up, her breasts
Swayed like the poles of rising boats.

22. Her head is like a bare hillock, as if
The remains of a building join it to a solid neck.

23. A cheek like Syrian paper, and a mouth
Like a Yemeni sword, its length not yet tested.

24. And eyes like two gazelles taking refuge
In the caves of eyelids in a rocky cliff of little water.

25. Keen of sight, watching for the least doubt
Of a hidden murmur or echo renewed.

26.
Accustomed, recognizing intimacy in them

27. Like a ewe hearing her lamb's bleating alone.
A lovely supple nose, a contracted brow

28. Like the edge of a sword in its fixed scabbard.
A conspicuous mouth-slit beginning from the nose -

29. When the earth feels it, she shakes and quakes.
If I wish, it does not sway, and if I wish it sways

30. Fearing a twisted blown reed of withered wood.
And a face as if the sun donned its cloak on him -

31. Pure complexion unstained by the sun.
Indeed, I spend the day in anxiety when he nears death,

32. Distracted by a pacing she-camel trailing a litter.
Aman camels white like stars, and a loving she-camel

33. Moving between us, in cold and heat.
Broad-chested, delicate hands, the beloved of ascetics

34. Clothed in smooth wool, she listens intently if called.
If we say "Listen!" she turns to us,

35. Speaking on her rope unfalteringly.
When she repeats our speech in her voice, you would think

36. Echoes replying from a distant dune.
Still I drank wine and enjoyed its pleasure,

37. Trading, spending freely, happy and gay,
Until the whole clan shunned me,

38. And I was left alone like a lost camel.
I saw the Banu Ghabra, they did not deny me,

39. Nor the people of the widespread sands.
O you who blame me, come to the fray!

40. Shall I miss pleasures and live cautiously?
If you cannot ward off my fate,

41. Let me rush to meet it as I am able!
Were it not for three habits that delight the youth -

42. Your grave! - I would not care when death comes.
Racing my friends to be first with the wine,

43. When the bowl mixed with water foams white.
My riding to the guest-feast proudly

44. Like the zebras' lead stallion called by those herding.
And staying late at revels, which please me,

45. Lazy, under vaults propped up on columns.
As if clothes and carpets were hung

46. On ten camels or an untired she-camel.
A generous man indulges himself in life -

47. Tomorrow in death we will know who is virtuous!
I see the grave of a miserly hoarder -

48. Like the grave of a profligate corruptor.
You see two bodies of dust with silent stone slabs,

49. Deaf plates from planed wood on them.
I see death seizing the generous, and choosing

50. The inheritance of a shameless hoarder.
I see life as a diminishing treasure nightly,

51. While the days and fate do not diminish.
Indeed, death does not miss the youth -

52. Like a stretched rope held in the hand.
Why do I see myself and my cousin wealthy,

53. Yet he shrinks from me if I approach?
He blames me - I know not why -

54. As Qurut ibn Ma'bad blamed me in life.
He despaired me of any good I sought,

55. As if we had placed it on a barren salt-flat.
With no crime I committed, he exiled me,

56. Attacking and driving me out disdainfully.
Yet had my Master been another man,

57. He would have relieved my woes or waited till tomorrow.
But my Master is a man strangling me

58. Whether I show gratitude or make demands.
The injustice of kin is more painful

59. Than a piercing sword-blow.
Leave me to my nature - I thank you still,

60. Even had my house been far off in exile.
Had my Lord willed, I would be Qays ibn Khalid,

61. Had my Lord willed, I would be ‘Amr ibn Marthad.
I would wake to ample wealth, and men of repute,

62. Noble lords, would visit me.
I am the man you recognize - hot-headed,

63. Like the head of an angry hissing snake.
I swore to never remove my mail, a coat

64. Of double-edged Indian steel swords.
When I stand victorious with it, the first blow

65. Suffices - it needs no other aid.
A brother, trustworthy in onslaught, whose motto is:

66. "Make way!" when asked to wait.
When the men bare their blades, you will find me

67. Fearsome, when my hand draws it.
A bolt-necked horse whose fierceness

68. Makes me walk valleys spear in hand.
So it passed on, that dappled hoary she-camel,

69. An old man's honored wife pacing sedately.
Saying as the caravan progressed:

70. “Do you not see you have come with supporters?”
And: “What do you make of this hostile drinker,

71. Violent against us, deliberately so?”
And: “Leave him be, his usefulness is ours;

72. Else, keep away from the valley's far end!”
So the slave-girls glanced around in disquiet

73. As they roused us with the polished sword.
“If you die, provide for me as I deserve,

74. Though to give pains you, O daughter of Ma'bad!
And make me not like a man whose concerns

75. Are not mine, who lends no joy to my revels.
Slow to face perils, quick to show cowardice,

76. Abject before the warriors, spineless.
Had I stood tall among men, the enmity

77. Of lords and ascetics would have distressed me.
But my daring with them, my resolve, my honesty

78. Drove men from me.” Indeed, my affairs trouble me
Neither day nor night - and a day when I reined in

79. My soul amid the fray to avoid damages,
At a place where a man fears imminent doom

80. When the noble virtues clash and roar!
I looked at the yellow cooking-pot on the fire

81. And entrusted it to the palm of a freezing hand.
Time will show what you knew not,

82. And news will come from those you did not provision,
News will come from those you gave no regard,

83. Not dealing with them or setting a time to meet.
With no recent event I stirred, yet I was expelled

84. For my verses and lampoons and sharp criticisms.
So leave me be, for such is my nature -

85. Though my house lies deserted on the high dunes.
Had my Lord willed, I would be Qays ibn Khalid,

86. Had my Lord willed, I would be ‘Amr ibn Marthad.
I would wake to ample wealth, and noble sons

87. Lords and masters, would visit me.
I am the man - fierce, dangerous - you know me,

88. Like the head of an angry hissing viper.
I swore never to remove my coat of mail,

89. A supple coat of Indian steel swords,
That if I stand, vanquishing with it,

90. The first blow suffices - it needs no other aid.
A brother I trust, who does not flinch

91. From a blow when told “Stop!” - “Make way!” he says.
When men take up arms you will find me

92. Steadfast when my hand draws it.
A terrified horse whose fleeing

93. Makes me walk valleys with naked blade.
So it passed on, an honored wife,

94. A venerable sheikh pacing with dignity,
Saying: “Do you not see you have come with supporters?

95. Is the path not clear to you?”
And: “What do you make of this drinker, violent against us,

96. His enmity plain and deliberate?”
And: “Let him be - his gifts benefit us.

97. Else, avoid the valley's distant end!”
The slave-girls glanced around anxiously

98. As they prepared to rouse us.
If you die, provide for me as deserved,

99. Though it pains you, O Ibnat Ma'bad!
Make me not like a man whose concerns

100. Are not mine, who lends no joy to my revels.
Slow to face perils, quick to show cowardice,

101. Abject before the warriors, spineless.
Were I eminent among men, the enmity

102. Of lords and ascetics would have pained me.
But my daring with them drove men from me -

103. My resolve, honesty, and willingness to engage.
By your life, my affairs trouble me little -

104. Neither day nor night overwhelms me.
A day I reined in my soul amid the fray