صُبَّتْ على حِمْيَرٍ وما انتَهبُوا

صُبَّتْ على حِمْيَرٍ وما انتَهبُوا

بِيضٌ رِقاقٌ وشُزَّبٌ قُبُّ

بِيضٌ رِقاقٌ وشُزَّبٌ قُبُّ

Upon Himyar and what they had plundered were poured

The whiteness spilled upon the donkeys yet they did not steal.

Slender white swords and lean, hollow-bellied steeds.

Pieces of thin, fine bread and dried up crumbs,

لُفَّتْ على حيِّهم عجاجَتُنا

لُفَّتْ على حيِّهم عجاجَتُنا

والشمسُ غَضٌّ شعاعِها رَطْبُ

والشمسُ غَضٌّ شعاعِها رَطْبُ

Our dust-cloud was wrapped around their camp,

Our bottles wrapped around their necks,

While the sun's rays were fresh and moist.

While the dewy rays of the sun are still moist.

جئناهُمُ والسماءُ مُصحِيَةٌ

جئناهُمُ والسماءُ مُصحِيَةٌ

والأرضُ خضراءُ نبتُها القُضْبُ

والأرضُ خضراءُ نبتُها القُضْبُ

We came upon them while the sky was clear,

We came upon them while the sky was awake

And the earth was green, its growth tender shoots.

And the earth still green, its plants still juicy and fresh,

فما انثنينا إلّا وجَوُّهُمُ

فما انثنينا إلّا وجَوُّهُمُ

أكلفُ والشمسُ قانِئٌ غضبُ

أكلفُ والشمسُ قانِئٌ غضبُ

So we did not turn back until their sky was

No sooner did we turn around than their faces

Dusky, and the sun blood-red and wrathful.

Frowned, while the sun grew calm in its rage.

لم تَنْجُ منهم إلّا مخَدَّرةٌ

لم تَنْجُ منهم إلّا مخَدَّرةٌ

دافعَ عنها الرِّعاثُ والقُلبُ

دافعَ عنها الرِّعاثُ والقُلبُ

None among them escaped except a secluded woman,

None survived save an intoxicated one

Whom her earrings and bracelet defended.

Defended by instinct and heart.