1. لَو أَنَّ أَهلَ الدّارِ لَم يَتَصَدَّعوا

    رَأَيتَ خِلالَ الدّارِ مَلهىً وَمَلعَبا

    If the people of the abode had not dispersed,

    you would have seen within the abode a place for delight and play.

  2. فَإِنَّكَ عَمري هَل أُريكَ ظَعائِناً

    سَلَكنَ عَلى رُكنِ الشَطاةِ فَتَيأَبا

    Indeed, by my life—shall I show you howdah-bearing camels

    that travelled along the flank of al-Shatah, then Tay'ab?

  3. عَلَيهُنَّ عَينٌ مِن ظِباءِ تَبالَةٍ

    أَوانِسُ يُصبينَ الحَليمَ المُجَرِّبا

    Upon them are wide-eyed gazelles of Tabalah,

    winsome women who captivate the prudent, seasoned man.

  4. إِذا جاءَ باغي الخَيرِ قُلنَ فُجاءَةً

    لَهُ بِوُجوهٍ كَالدَنانيرِ مَرحَبا

    When a seeker of kindness came, they would suddenly say

    to him, with faces like gold dinars, “Welcome,

  5. وَأَهلاً فَلا مَمنوعُ خَيرٍ طَلَبتَهُ

    وَلا أَنتَ تَخشى عِندَنا أَن تُؤَنَّبا

    and welcome! No good you seek is denied you,

    nor need you fear reproach among us.”

  6. فَلا تَحسَبَنّي كُنتُ مَولى اِبنِ مِشكِمٍ

    سَلامٍ وَلا مَولى حُيَيِّ بنِ أَخطَبا

    So do not suppose I was a client of Ibn Mishkam,

    Salam, nor a client of Huyayy ibn Akhtab.