1. Hurrayrah bid farewell, though blamer blamed
At dawn tomorrow, or are you set on parting?

2. For a year now it has sheltered its baby camels
And wearied of milking pails and milkers.

3. A smooth rock-face its tent ropes, its youth gone
With its love-sick eye and black midportion.

4. A face whose pallor the smooth cheek adorns
Matched by its beauty-spots and lovely dimples.

5. It smiles to hide the secrets of its nooks as though
They were the seedlings of sweet basil, intertwining.

6. It's care I can't dismiss, that only death in battle
Can penetrate, and the outstanding warrior.

7. I saw the Bani Shayban appear to my people
As wrongs and injuries designed with malice.

8. If at dawn our foe comes nearest, he will find
Before him rababahs and settlements laid waste.

9. Sa'd, Ka'b, 'Ibad, Tayyi'
Dotards in their litters, marks traced on their foreheads,

10. No allies have we found since your time
To make a Zuhayr or knight crave to raid us

11. Nor will you desist until between us lances
Are splintered by the hands of heroes dauntless,

12. And people spend the night in ranks until dawn cries
"Light up!" though still the night enfolds in darkness,

13. As they stand, with the charging horses beneath them
Binding the saddles tight around their withers,

14. If they hear the shout, the vultures plunge directly
On them, dusky-flanked, rapacious, female.

15. Will you avenge Abu Thabit, or shall I fear
Only the mischief glancing from his eyes?

16. So do not cheer up when you look at me askance
Or treat me, unless your face shows loathing.

17. I swear by God, whose bondsman I have been,
That one day over you will fall the curtain.

18. "Unlawful!" it will shout. By our Lord unlawful!
And leave behind it riches sealed and treasured.

19. Abu Thabit, may our lances avoid you!
Abu Thabit, I'll live out my days in safety!

20. Each year you kill us off and we grow younger -
Only white hairs are proof that time passes.

21. Leave us and a people who, if they intend us harm
Abu Thabit, be seated, enjoy your comfort!

22. Food of Iraq in plenty, that you see,
Fine robes and money given you each year.

23. Will you command a knight to slay our nobles
And after claim to be a man of mercy?

24. Abu Thabit, when we take the lead
A pasture or a sleeper will awaken

25. With a torch whose flashes soak the bedding,
A light that burns intensely through the night

26. To solace eyes once gleeful at your absence
And soak the gown and mantle of a wife.

27. A pony will be found, our cousin's handmaid,
Like gifts exchanged between close relatives.

28. Accost her, and she'll say "Abkr of Wa'il"
Though Bakr's men captured her, striking off her nose.