لقد أَيقَنتَ عَنتَرَ أَنَّ حربي

لقد أَيقَنتَ عَنتَرَ أَنَّ حربي

على الأعداءِ مِلحاحٌ ثقيله

على الأعداءِ مِلحاحٌ ثقيله

You have surely learned, Antar, that my warfare

You were certain, Antara, that my war

is relentless and grievous to my enemies;

Against the enemies is intense and heavy,

غداةَ تُرِكتَ في قيدٍ أَسيراً

غداةَ تُرِكتَ في قيدٍ أَسيراً

لدى عمروٍ ولم تنفعكَ حيله

لدى عمروٍ ولم تنفعكَ حيله

on the morning you were left a captive in fetters

The morning you were left in chains, a prisoner

in Amr’s custody, and no stratagem availed you.

In the hands of Amr - and your tricks did not avail you.

تُنادي يا لَعَبسَ فما أجابوا

تُنادي يا لَعَبسَ فما أجابوا

ولم تَثني صدورَهُمُ الوسيله

ولم تَثني صدورَهُمُ الوسيله

You call out, 'O Abs, to my aid!' but they did not answer;

You call out, "O Labis!" - but they did not answer you,

nor did the plea sway their hearts.

Nor did entreaties soften their hard hearts.

وعبسٌ فوقَها طيرُ المنايا

وعبسٌ فوقَها طيرُ المنايا

ومُعضِلةٌ تَحُفُّ بها جليله

ومُعضِلةٌ تَحُفُّ بها جليله

And above Abs hover the birds of death,

And above them wheeled the birds of death,

and a grave calamity surrounds it.

And around them difficulties piled high.