1. O lightning of Najd, have you felt the blame
Of one who reproaches your smiling gleam?

2. Whenever it saw you flash through the darkness of night
It would say to the tear in its eyelid, “Flow!”

3. I implore you, give drink to my beloved land
With clouds embroidered with sprinkling rain,

4. And blow the gentle breezes of Salma’s groves,
And when you pass over ‘Uqayq, give it greetings.

5. There I once freely dragged the train of a youth’s robe,
Yielding to him, heedless of any blame,

6. Oft have I walked the camp in the darkness of night
While night wore the raiment of a dapple-grey steed.

7. Leaning my cheek upon Zawra’s flank
I pierced its arrows with similar stars.

8. And once I wrapped myself there in the skirts
Of a lightly springing spotted cloak, fastened high.

9. I mastered it, though passion was more masterful,
So the mighty is ruled by one yet mightier.

10. Now I know their glances train
The eye in the skill of glancing arrows.

11. I forgave my singer’s sin when he
Turned against me, and excused the arrows.

12. He gave their dwellings drink, though parting’s woes
Still flowed for the enamored, devoted lover.

13. I yearn for their land, and maybe
I pine for my highland’s morning breeze,

14. And I say, while the sandgrouse cries out gladly
And my tears are the color of gum iris:

15. “From you is song, from my tears a pulsing murmur,
While brimming cups of wine now trill.

16. On a dark and gloomy night when black gloom
Wrapped itself in robes of woe and grief,

17. The breeze blew free and wild there; did
The crimson of dusk ever shed such blood?

18. O daughter of Dhu’l-Rumma, who cries out in battle,
Who will stand surety for me against blame?”

19. My tears kept watch at night
To guard the union of pearls.

20. And perhaps the lyre’s strings throbbed
When they moved from being plucked to lips.

21. Beauty set those pearls above necklaces
And conversation, and you set them on your smile.

22. O would the steeds convey me to dwellings
Adorned with tears of every ardent lover!

23. Of every light chestnut horse or every dapple-grey mare
Who glories in the Pleiades or claims as his own a star

24. That browses the stars as one pasturing on a meadow,
Rending apart the darkness of heavy-laden night,

25. And from which the night begets a night like it
However much the wings of darkness spread.

26. I flow among the swords as smoothly as
I saw the flowing of the red striped robe.

27. Nothing in its arena swifter than it
Except ‘Ayyash -

28. The eminent nobles’ progeny inherited glory.
Foremost in merit over the foremost.

29. Of all the brilliant white by glory crowned
Or more refulgent in generous deeds sealed,

30. White are they, though time darkens,
Dispelling its shadows with shining white.

31. They built the heights and great deeds a palace
To which souls aspire by a ladder.

32. They grew, O Abu l-Fadl, who in his right hand
Holds a merit which pours on the ruffled clouds.

33. A tradition which reminds us of the ancients’ legends,
Who were pillars of the most ancient times.

34. Its auspicious stars relate that if
The devils of misfortunes attack, they are stoned.

35. O essence of minds, apart from you no essence
Could be orderly if your order failed.

36. We fall short however much you reap of generosity,
Bounty, nobility, like the blossoms of stars,

37. And diverse beauties whose arts you united
To which you marched in splendor adorned.

38. When I send you praise it is but
A donation I present to a copious sea.”