1. يا دارُ أَعرِفُها وَحشاً مَنازِلُها

    بَينَ القَوائِمِ مِن رَهطٍ فَأَلبانِ

    O dwelling I recognize, whose campsites lie desolate,

    between al-Qawāʾim of Rahṭ and Albān,

  2. فَدِمنَةٍ بِزُخَيّاتِ الأَحَثِّ إِلى

    ضَوجَي دُفاقٍ كَسَحقِ المَلبَسِ الفاني

    then a ruined campsite at Zukhayyāt al-Aḥathth, stretching to

    the two bends of Dufāq, like the threadbare cloth of a worn-out garment.

  3. ما إِن رَأَيتُ وَصَرفُ الدَهرِ ذو عَجَبٍ

    كَاليَومِ هَزَّةَ أَجمالٍ بِأَظعانٍ

    Never have I seen—and time’s vicissitudes are full of wonder—

    such a swaying of camels bearing women in litters as today:

  4. صَفّاً جَوانِحَ بَينَ التَوأَماتِ كَما

    صَفَّ الوُقوعَ حَمامُ المَشرَبِ الحاني

    in a row, leaning between al-Tawʾamāt, just as

    the bowing doves at the watering place line up as they alight.

  5. يا وَيكَ عَمّارُ لِم تَدعو لِتَقتُلَني

    وَقَد أُجيبُ إِذا يَدعونَ أَقراني

    O—woe to you, ʿAmmār! Why call me out to kill me,

    when I do answer whenever my equals call?

  6. وَالقَومَ أَعلَمُ هَل أَرمي وَراءَهُم

    إِذ لا يُقاتِلُ مِنهُم غَيرُ خُصّانِ

    And the men know best whether I shoot from behind them,

    when none of them fights except a chosen few,

  7. فَإِذ عارَتِ النَبلُ وَاِلتَفَّ اللُفوفُ وَإِذ

    سَلّوا السُيوفَ عُراةً بَعدَ إِشحانِ

    and when arrows fly and the massed troops become entangled, and when

    they draw the swords, bare after being sheathed,

  8. إِذ لا يُقارِعُ أَطرافَ الظُباتِ إِذا اِس

    تَوقَدنَ إِلّا كُماةٌ غَيرُ أَجبانِ

    when none clashes with the tips of blades, once they

    blaze, except armored warriors who are no cowards.

  9. إِنَّ الرَشادَ وَإِنَّ الغَيَّ في قَرَنٍ

    بِكُلِّ ذَلِكَ يَأتيكَ الجَديدانِ

    Indeed, right guidance and error are bound by one tether;

    the ever-new pair, night and day, bring you all of that.

  10. لا تَأمَنَنَّ وَلَو أَصبَحتَ في حَرَمٍ

    إِنَّ المَنايا بِجَنبَي كُلِّ إِنسانِ

    Never feel safe, even if you wake within a sanctuary;

    for death stands on either side of every person.

  11. وَلا تَهابَنَّ إِن يَمَّمتَ مَهلَكَةً

    إِنَّ المُزَحزَحَ عَنهُ يَومُهُ داني

    And never fear if you head into mortal danger;

    for even one kept far from it has his day drawing near.

  12. وَلا تَقولَنْ لِشَيءٍ سَوفَ أَفعَلُهُ

    حَتّى تَبَيَّنَ ما يَمني لَكَ الماني

    And never say of anything, ‘I shall do it,’

    until you discern what the Apportioner allots you.