1. The mount swaying upon the ruins of the house,
Stood still by the ancient deserted dwelling,

2. And drew down a flood of cares which did
Quench the burning thirst of the longing lover,

3. A house whose marks have been effaced as though
They were strange lettering on a slate;

4. Or like the tattoo marks on the back of a weeping captive
Who shows affection and coquetry,

5. So I stopped my she-camel, as though she were
A class of genealogists or an advisor;

6. And I asked about it (the abandoned campsite) but it was speechless
And even if it had spoken its answer would have been: Ask not!

7. How to ask, and does a deserted abode return an answer?
An abode changed by the passage of nights?

8. I have nothing left but my hopes and me, unkempt and lonely,
And positions of power and abundant respectable goods;

9. With these my soul was made turbid by the violent winds
And with them I was joyous with an abundance of flowing water,

10. O dwelling square building and closely built!
Has time caused me to lose my pride and good looks?

11. Bestow then, O you dwelling, a happy morning
In which we lived in ease and luxury,

12. When we were safe from disasters in an impregnable position
And far from the efforts of the obstructionist,

13. We sported and frolicked amongst the white sandhills—
Encampments which were as the embroidered gowns loosened for play;

14. With girls of the protected quarters, and impudent females
Adorned with kohl unmixed with tears,

15. Who flash their white teeth when they smile
Like lightning gleaming from a fleeing cloud,

16. And with them are slave-girls smooth of face like gazelles,
Who peek from beneath the strand-plaited hair;

17. Bent over like branches heavy with fruit
Or like palm trees with interwoven branches;

18. Like the branch above the vegetable patch is mounted upon it—
A brilliant moon amidst an intensely dark night;

19. And many days I sported and many a night
I spent in play with them under union and acceptance,

20. And I drank from these which were overflowing
With a darkness sweeter than the limpid nectar,

21. Leave this be! Count as past the dwellings and their dwellers,
And the union and the old first love!

22. Saddlebags on led horses whose
Whose pistol cases sway on saddles

23. With a howdah travelling party, its leader magnificently dressed;
Rebellious, defiant, bouncing howdahs

24. If its camels are counted as mounts, they would be found to surpass
Any wealth; or if they were ascribed to a tribe, no tribe owns the like!

25. How often have I traveled the sandy waterless wilderness with them
By night, and how often have I brought them to watering places!

26. And indeed I have witnessed horses with them, fully caparisoned
As the darkness gathered, wrapped in their saddle cloths

27. Huge of shoulder, fierce-eyed, piebald stripe on the forehead,
Of splendid stock, their necks ornamented with tassels;

28. As though he had stamped the morning with his hoof when it appeared
On his face like stars appearing from behind the clouds,

29. Chestnut-colored, sounding loudly the neighborhoods,
Whose voice fills the valley as he neighs;

30. Flowing with his mane, smooth in the legs, fetlocks tufted
His coronets are surrounded with feathers;

31. Pure white in color as if the splash marks on his shoulders
Were a silvery dress under his neck cloth;

32. He paws violently at rocks until they resemble
Deaf stones turned to hollow and smooth pebbles;

33. He bolts into a gallop then steadies, racing downhill
To the west then wheeling around towards the east;

34. Aflame like fire sparked by the blacksmith
And when he gallops he is like a shooting star;

35. He swims powerfully without tiring,
And trots rhythmically gathering speed;

36. I prepared him to meet the warriors and readied him
Like a burning star flung high;

37. I built glory toweringly high its construction
Has not been made less laborious by building it even higher

38. My father won pride and built in the heights
A house which amazes even the well-sheltered;

39. So I followed his approach to the heights with bounty, intent and favor
And I am the son of one who surpassed all the kings

40. From the epoch of al-Ghassan, the most noble king;
And I am the one whose enemies bear witness to his superiority

41. If you do not really know, then ask!
And I am the son of Nubuhan whose grandfather was Tubba`

42. To us belongs the preference from which none are oblivious
The best of kings, in descent and achievements

43. Noble countenances and distinguished pedigree
My Lord has blessed us, revealing our praise

44. In the verses of the Book sent down,