1. Who now stays in the abandoned abodes of Bu'athmah,
Their walls stripped bare by the winds when you departed?

2. The winds have bared them, and piled the dust upon them
With gravel more ashen than earth from a barren hollow.

3. What use are the ragged tents of a ruined encampment,
The footholds of low shrubs amid the trees,

4. The camel-folds, the tethering ropes of steeds—
Their shelters amid the sandhills and small ravines?

5. Do messages from me reach you there, as the planets rise
Between a starry night and one still dark—

6. Telling how we keep the clans confined, now my people
Have as many warriors as folk abroad at daybreak?

7. When they visit us again, our reckless warriors come
With gleaming swords, made keen like threshing sleds.

8. Convey to Jušamī my words, O you
Who frees the live coals on cold mornings:

9. "I smote three hosts and then a fourth as well,
After they had banded together secretly.

10. Then Khath'am came, and B. Zabīd as one,
And Mudhij entire, plus both the sons of Şuĥạ̄r.

11. A group of Şudạ̄' also joined us there,
And Dūmaiy, plus the entirety of B. Shi'ār.

12. We were not aware of them until they came
Like donkeys gathered round a wellhead's pulley wheel.

13. Then a caller from their ranks and one from ours
Stood by our tents' doors, you strapping youth.

14. It was as though we were at the mountain pass, having ignited
Fires whose glow extended to Ṣuḥayr's slopes.

15. They said, 'O Li'b, go pull them into combat—
Let them taste the hot iron of the spear!'

16. We said, 'O Layrā, go herd them off—
Make them today's example of vile cowards!'

17. But do not hamstring my steed—rather, I spur it on
When the thrusting and stabbing grows more fierce.

18. I drive it at the champions; truly,
I have great patience on a day of woes.

19. I prayed the dawn prayer there, then sallied forth,
My sword gleaming bright like a polished spearhead.

20. It was as though when my steed sensed my resolve
It recoiled from whipping the cheek any more.

21. I parried their blows and struck back at them, sending off
Flurries like the hem of a loincloth.

22. Then their white-skinned captives from 'Akk turned in retreat,
Like the young of wild cows fleeing the seaside.

23. I did not then stint that day with my own life
Or steed, when it came to the spearhead's blade.

24. We battled with swords—when we came at them,
They broke and ran, totally routed.

25. Mark you! Convey to Ghuzayl there that now
He may lay fullest claim to valiant fame.

26. Yet you and fame gained through Kacb's line
Are like one who brags in borrowed robes.

27. The lank she-camel rejoices to see him
Strutting along while she plods on a donkey.

28. On that day we saw who it was that came at us
With the celestial orb amid the daytime sky.

29. Had we been at Mughīrah, we'd have returned
Mu'abbal and the slave girls like hobbled she-camels.

30. This claim, Abū Thawr, does not accord with your deeds—
It contradicts what you did, you shameless coward!

31. Had your headlong rushing not then resembled
A raid by Kulaym's sons amid the fray,

32. You'd have gotten back from me a similar blow
From a blade no less keen than tempered steel.