لا تَذكُري مُهري وَما أَطعَمتُهُ

لا تَذكُري مُهري وَما أَطعَمتُهُ

فَيَكونَ جِلدِكِ مِثلَ جِلدِ الأَجرَبِ

فَيَكونَ جِلدِكِ مِثلَ جِلدِ الأَجرَبِ

Do not mention my colt and what I have fed him,

Do not recall my bridal gift or what I fed it,

Lest your skin become like the skin of one with mange.

Lest your skin becomes like that of mangy camels.

إِنَّ الغَبوقَ لَهُ وَأَنتِ مَسوأَةٌ

إِنَّ الغَبوقَ لَهُ وَأَنتِ مَسوأَةٌ

فَتَأَوَّهي ما شِئتِ ثُمَّ تَحَوَّبي

فَتَأَوَّهي ما شِئتِ ثُمَّ تَحَوَّبي

The evening milk is indeed his, though you are displeased;

Though the beloved camel is yours while you are blameworthy,

So groan as much as you wish, then lament.

Sigh as much as you wish, then crawl on your knees.

كَذَبَ العَتيقُ وَماءُ شَنٍّ بارِدٍ

كَذَبَ العَتيقُ وَماءُ شَنٍّ بارِدٍ

إِن كُنتِ سائِلَتي غَبوقاً فَاِذهَبي

إِن كُنتِ سائِلَتي غَبوقاً فَاِذهَبي

Take old dates and cool water from a worn waterskin;

The loyal camel has lied—there is only cold well water here.

If you are asking me for evening milk, then go away.

If you ask me for a beloved camel, then begone!

إِنَّ الرِجالَ لَهُم إِلَيكِ وَسيلَةٌ

إِنَّ الرِجالَ لَهُم إِلَيكِ وَسيلَةٌ

إِن يَأخُذوكِ تَكَحَّلي وَتَخَضَّبي

إِن يَأخُذوكِ تَكَحَّلي وَتَخَضَّبي

Indeed, men have a means of reaching you:

Men have their ways of coming to you,

If they capture you, apply kohl and dye yourself with henna.

Should they take you, adorn yourself with kohl and henna.

وَيَكونُ مَركَبَكِ القَعودُ وَرَحلُهُ

وَيَكونُ مَركَبَكِ القَعودُ وَرَحلُهُ

وَابنُ النَعامَةِ يَومَ ذَلِكَ مَركَبي

وَابنُ النَعامَةِ يَومَ ذَلِكَ مَركَبي

And your mount will be the young camel with its saddle,

Your mount will be sitting, its saddle and gear,

And Ibn al-Naʿāmah—the ostrich’s son—will be my mount that day.

And ostrich chicks on that day will be your transport.

إِنّي أُحاذِرُ أَن تَقولَ ظَعينَتي

إِنّي أُحاذِرُ أَن تَقولَ ظَعينَتي

هَذا غُبارٌ ساطِعٌ فَتَلَبَّبِ

هَذا غُبارٌ ساطِعٌ فَتَلَبَّبِ

I fear that my wife in her howdah may say:

I fear you might say, “My little she-camel,

“This is dust rising high—so gird yourself!”

This is shining dust,” and then crawl on your knees.

وَأَنا اِمرُؤٌ إِن يَأخُذوني عَنوَةً

وَأَنا اِمرُؤٌ إِن يَأخُذوني عَنوَةً

أُقرَن إِلى شَرِّ الرِكابِ وَأُجنَبِ

أُقرَن إِلى شَرِّ الرِكابِ وَأُجنَبِ

And I am a man who, if they seize me by force,

As for me, should they seize me by force,

Will be tethered to the worst of the riding camels and led alongside it.

I would be coupled to the vilest of steeds and estranged.