1. Shall I abandon bounties, or keep the bond tied?
How many a bounty is cut off from one with a slender rope!

2. When you comfort your heart about the loss of youth,
You remember its intimacy and smooth conversation.

3. And a white-armed damsel whose dusk is soft,
And an ancient she-camel braided with plaits,

4. And a slit-eared cow, and a sturdy she-camel
Whose belly is like a sword-sheath that knows no burden,

5. If bounties have cut me off, then they bow down
And bend humbly when I come to them with purpose.

6. They show themselves, then draw near, then distance
To either bring themselves to me or surely kill me.

7. No rope of bounty lasts, renewing its tie,
Nor anything that exists but meetings and partings.

8. The tribes of the living, when they undertook
For those severed from them, skins shrunk from washing,

9. Raised, the morning after separation, coarse wool robes,
And mantles lined with figured silk,

10. On every bicep of the two arms a coal
Passing over the forearms continually searing.

11. The gushing of the polished, jeweled waterskins pours down
Over the camel litters, shading the howdahs.

12. So I followed the caravan, my eyes streaming
With ardor, as they had passed beyond a stony tract,

13. The bones of the twisting necks overcome with languor,
Adorned with Yemeni leather,

14. If the driver whistles at them insistently they are defiant,
Thinking him to be palm trees when they gain water and pasturage.

15. Old she-camels of Aus and Uthman like humbled beasts,
Dignified, never brought shame or aversion.

16. Familiar she-camels whose eyes are as though
They are sheep of Ibn Sarim, or imbued with millet and fenugreek,

17. Familiar she-camels galloping the smooth-worn road as though
They were treading, when fully watered, on soft ground.

18. O man who is neither silent nor speaks justly or equitably
If you speak, know what you say and do not be

19. Like one gathering wood at night, piling up trash and twigs!
The ornament of my people - if you ask, they possesses

20. An honor you cannot carry to another people.
If you travel till the rising of the sun you will never find

21. For any people, though they be generous, superiority to my people.
They give ample dowries to bridegrooms and ransom captives

22. When their horses are necklaced in the thick of the fray.
We speak - our words please - we support it;

23. We are people who do well in words and actions.
We drove away from Tihama with the spear

24. And the short coat of mail, driving captive the captives with us.
You see for them bellies tucked up, their backs elongated,

25. Proceeding tied together, marked with the cautery.
If examined for pedigree, they flow and foam over,

26. And if tested for ancestry, they mix it and perfect it.
For every young man broad of waist, long-necked,

27. Lean of groin, created not to be cowardly or slothful,
In their hands Indian swords polished smooth

28. And famous, forged of steel and planished.

29. When we finish fighting one company
We turn to another, which occupies us.

30. How many a foe have our spears made lawful to violate,
And how many a friend gained booty from our swords!