1. Her happiness has faded and its rope is now cut,
My youth gave way to old age then to senility.

2. She did not recognize me, but what made her unrecognizable,
Was nothing but the grey hair and baldness.

3. Time may leave sturdy youths as frail wrecks,
And bring down the strongest from the heights of glory.

4. She has faded after achieving her heart’s desire,
After a harmonious union and the best affection too.

5. We saw life's seekers whose companions
Wished the past would come back if it slipped away!

6. She resisted tyrants and affection was just,
Adorning all the lover did and had made.

7. When life disjoined what it once brought together,
Scattering what it once united and gathered.

8. You cannot attain what you seek,
If the ignorance of youth has departed from you.

9. “Father”, my daughter pleads, “Spare my dad all harm and agony”.
She sought the intercession of noble ladies of proud descent,

10. But her father refused and rejected their intercession.
Gently, my daughter. Ambition

11. Stirs a man when it touches his mind and ribs.
On yourself, the same as you prayed, so be patient

12. A day, for the bereaved to rest at home.
Ask the leaders of the caravans and await

13. The return of the traveler, be it soon or late.
Be like she who when her visitor was absent,

14. Gazed at him from afar, suffering distress.
Do not be like one who expects no return

15. Of the distant exile, and no homecoming.
No glance of languid eyes truly resembles hers,

16. As the wolf proclaimed when it howled out loud.
When she gave an honest look, not deceptive,

17. As the family of wolves collectively raised their heads.
She tossed her smooth neck, no deceiver,

18. A human, weak, not one to oppress.
“I see”, she said, “a man holding a shoulder,

19. Or cobbling shoes, longing for any task”.
They called her a liar for what she said, then at dawn

20. The tribe of Hassan's hounds brought death and havoc.
The lofty houses of the carefree were demolished,

21. Those towering buildings were razed down.
A village where fear silenced its shelters,

22. Until you see death roaming about seeking victims.
You hear nothing in its stillness to comfort you

23. Except the hooting owls and howling jackals.
I ventured there driven by ambition

24. When its roaming beasts glimmered at night.
A foul lascivious one who, when she stumbled,

25. Curse her! Revilement suited her more than praise.
She sways with the stalk of tattoo on her thigh

26. Over a vulva that never followed virginity.
She pretends to be untouched whenever she blinks

27. As if to preserve her virginity unspoiled!
As if after the billy-goats had their fill of her,

28. She was a lustful devil seeking mere pleasure.
A prowling wolf desired her in the land

29. Walking softly, hidden in form but timid.
He kept deceiving her to enjoy her alone

30. In an unclaimed wilderness, repeating his deceit.
She came in heat to give birth to a son and nourish him

31. With meat! She fed meat as she mourned!
He kept eating her as she grazed

32. From dawn to dusk, watching over the flock.
Until when her udder was full, she came

33. To suckle, to nourish, if only he would suck!
In haste she went to the nearest place, but a group

34. Of fearless Meccan knights suddenly took her by surprise.
So she left, bereaved, in sorrow,

35. While each one there had gathered around her.
She was heedless of him and did not feel

36. That death had one day sent forth a lion.
Until the rays of the sun shone on her,

37. A caller to hunting sought his companions' pleasure.
With hounds swift as arrows, baring

38. Necks clad with leather thongs in place of pearls.
She left behind her nothing but vertebrae, ribs,

39. Bones and front legs, all gnawed away.
I consoled her after the youths had enjoyed her,

40. She fears not, and seeks no refuge in caves.
"Fear not, for you are from honored stock

41. Who fail not when facing perils, afraid."
They are the Khadramites! When absent or present,

42. They bow to none of their neighbors in humility.
Their homes secure their neighbors

43. One day when terror fills the heart with fear.
In war, when it bares its claws, they are

44. Like ferocious lions baring canine teeth.
A rain for widows and orphans everywhere,

45. The sun never rose but bringing harm or benefit.
Whoever encounters fear submits without pretense

46. Whether wearing a crown or removing headgear.
For him are garlands of rubies embellished

47. By artisans without defects in their workmanship.
Finest Yemeni brocade he wears

48. A gift from Abu Qudamah with affection.
Grey hair did not detract from his standing

49. As ignorance was lifted from him entirely.
Brightest, whitest, from whom rain is implored,

50. He would battle people to achieve his dreams.
The elders burdened this youth with responsibilities

51. Borne by their noble predecessors, and he shouldered them.
Their testing only increased Abu Qudama's

52. Wisdom, composure, virtue and excellence.
Whoever sees Hauza or enters his domain

53. Becomes a loyal follower of Hauza in all affairs.
The leaders of men are his entourage

54. Each satisfied to be considered his follower.
O Hauza! The best of men who walks with dignity,

55. An ocean of bounty for visitors and poets.
He abides by the counsel of the eminent

56. When showing wisdom or whatever he wills to initiate.
The dweller of Hait, when you approach him,

57. His massive flood seems to rise over the Dual Heights.
His battalions march when he travels in state,

58. Nearly reaching the peak of Dual Heights in ascent.
The winds blow in his favor, so his ships extend

59. As far as the eye can see amidst the waves.
None is more generous when asked to give,

60. Than Hauza, except the miserly who deceive.
Asking Tameem about his days of captivity

61. When they were all brought to him in chains.
In the stifling darkness of `Aita, where they could find

62. No refuge or means of escape.
Had they been fed manna and quails,

63. People would not see any benefit reach them.
Oppressed in the darkness by neglect of the king,

64. Afterwards they tasted the bitter draught of captivity.
The king's punishment befell them all,

65. Every Tameemite's heart bled with grief.
He said to the king: “Set a hundred free

66. As envoys, with softened then defiant speech.”
So the king freed a hundred from their fetters,

67. And they all gained booty from the raid.
With them Dhahiyah on the Easter feast drew near

68. To God through charity, with righteousness and good deeds.
He did not intend, by this charity,

69. Reward, if he simply spoke a good word.
They see no previous favor in this,

70. If the speaker strives rightly in what he says.
Men cannot mend what is decrepit though they try

71. All their lives, nor restore what is beyond repair.
What God wills to divide He will divide,

72. And no longer unite what He once brought together.
The people of Shibam won the favor of Saudad

73. Who plunged into death on his way to the cities.