1. You come to Salima's abode though you do not visit her,
And desire has diverted you from her and her lord.

2. I did not fear separation from her until I saw
Her, heading towards the hamlet, with her camel train.

3. Over them are russet cloaks from spotted camels,
Their faces peering out from beneath the litters.

4. Among them is a fair-cheeked girl child,
Calm as you, though it would not harm her to be angry.

5. My love for her was no sin, except
That Salima's name keeps occurring in my poetry.

6. But tell me, did our spy come to her
With the news of the Iraqi when her warner came to her?

7. With a fiery, gray she-camel, even were they to butt her against
A pregnant she-camel, her rocks would be shattered.

8. They rouse the clan of Ka'b and call upon Madhij
To help us - Ka'b and the ends of its plains.

9. When we saw that Ka'b was our foe
And the innermost disease was laid bare,

10. We called upon our father, alive Ka'b ibn Malik -
To him the great claim has devolved.

11. So there rose against them from Qutaybah a band
And from Wail, fierce in war, its helpers.

12. They milled around for a time, and we made them
Go round, ravaging its corners and circling it.

13. With every short-speared, squat warrior,
And with the slow, heavily-armed cavalry,

14. With blows that remove resolve from its dwelling,
And stabs like the bursting of waters in childbirth,

15. With forelocks whose stallions they restrain when attacking,
Neighing in the desolate heights amid its warriors,

16. When they bivouac, over the desolate heights come to them
Swarms of arrows, like locusts taking flight.

17. So we left not between warrior and charging horseman
A single life, except gorged with our hawks.

18. And we came with the likes of splendid camels from their women -
Bosoms pure as the Qana and Mashrafi camels,

19. And a prize chestnut or dun mare
Hopeful of a foal from her sons who raids her,

20. Who looks on the sons of Khamis in awe -
The vanguard of horses no armor protects its leader.

21. Thus she returns to weeping copiously
And her mucus and tears return to her.