1. All things are fated to decay
Except my Lord, and righteous deeds.

2. People stare with greedy eyes
Yet no trickery will serve their needs.

3. Tell Abla's mother to weep for Bujayr
Whose passing sundered men from wealth untold

4. Yes, by my life! For Bujayr I will weep
Until from mountain peaks the waters roll.

5. For Bujayr my soul burns with desire
When destriers stamp and ranks in combat close

6. When lances clash and white blades flash
As warriors grapple with their warrior foes

7. And ladies' cheeks grow flushed as they implore:
"O for Bujayr, a lofty knight of charm!"

8. O Bujayr, fount of bounty! Not until
Our blades are filled with foemen's lives shall we be calm

9. When their blood drenches chests will eyes find peace
After their weeping for the loved ones slain

10. Wailers cry loud at dawn, for now
With camel's tramp and loads is Wael afevered plain

11. I knew not of their gardens, God knows best,
Yet now their heat consumes me, stack and stone

12. I avoided Wael, hoping they'd awake
But Taghlib's grip allowed no chance to flee my own

13. To taunt me, they drove my camel past
Bujayr slain though he no battle fought

14. Basely with a sandal-strap they killed
A prince! Foul murder with a thong is fraught.

15. Taghlib's sons, take care! For we
Have drained death's bitter cup without recall

16. You slew a man, O Taghlib's youths
Whose like for nobility we never saw at all

17. Bring my ostrich steed to me
Wael's war has left me strengthless, limp and frail

18. Bring it closer! Not mere words
But deeds of mine shall soon reveal the tale

19. Bring it closer! Women Noah blamed
When men took second wives in days of old

20. Bring it closer! Grey has grown my hair
And the young girls no longer speak my name, I'm told

21. Bring it closer! For night rounds
And climbing hills at dawn, my joints are too stiff-set

22. Bring it closer! So heros can embrace
And stalwarts greet their equals without let

23. Turn from ignorant men's loose talk Bring it closer!
Bring it closer! My heart quails not

24. From battle, and my soul disdains retreat
Bring it closer! When North winds blast

25. Their coldest chill, and branches lash and beat
Bring it closer! For Bujayr who undid

26. Our chains and freed us from captivity
Bring it closer! For this noble soul

27. Crowned with glory and unmatched nobility
Bring it closer! We do not sell men

28. Like shoes! This market-haggling we deny
Bring it closer! Bujayr, for whom my uncle

29. And aunt would sacrifice themselves, for whom would I
Draw it nearer, as a dread mount for Taghlib's horsemen

30. When champions grapple on the field of fight
Lead it forth, a stout spearshaft of seasoned elmwood

31. To repel the archer's shafts in towering flight
With smooth lances of Yemen, bring it closer!

32. When heroes close in clashing ranks outright
Full many a horde I've seen, pelted by death

33. Though panoplied knights stood haughty in their might
Ask Kindah's warriors, and Bekr's horsemen too

34. Inquire of Mudhij's riders, and Hayy's band
When we face a potent force mailed for war

35. Grim, staunch, and stern, and skilled hand against hand
We drive them off when they seek to trade glance for glance

36. Like hornets routed by stones swiftly sped