1. Do the souls of the people find comfort or do they not find solace?
Yes, everyone who occupies himself with unburdening finds relief.

2. When she smiles, she reveals a setting as if
It were the features of a frowning woman beginning to incline and glance.

3. This passion has stirred a sickly eye
Which shed tears with which the eye began to be dewy.

4. With the eyelid of a rubicund eyelid, the early morning darkness disperses
When the gloom uncovers its edge as dawn breaks.

5. And I gave Amro the judgement of Ummama
While the buyer from him, Ummama is more profitable.

6. The heart recovered from Salma after she had gladdened it
And it encountered no weariness from frequent blaming.

7. I saw Sulaima indifferent to what we have between us
Nor did any request that was unmet trouble her.

8. If Asma were to accompany miserable companions one day
Then Asma would be wittier than those miserable ones.

9. The shadows gathered around the tent of Asma and parted
With Asma the dodger of slanderers being more nimble.

10. Sulaima says there is no comfort in estrangement
Rather some estrangement is more curative and comforting.

11. I love you, for love invites passion
And what is between me and you was about to depart.

12. Do you not rebuke those who slander me
Just as I am concerned for you and fume behind you?

13. I turned to Salma but did not see anyone like her
A bosom friend to be visited and praised.

14. And my heart had been, due to her love and recollection of her
When we remembered Salma in yearning, delighted.

15. When I come to visit her one day
The demeanor of the people towards me completely changes.

16. By God, an eye that continues for the mention of her
To begin to incline and pour forth in every circumstance.

17. And the guide of passion and love has not turned away from me
When I come close to the point that it almost becomes exposed.

18. I conceal my passion fearing that the eyes of enemies among the people
Would look at her scornfully and that the jealous among them would frown.

19. The anguish which my soul has worn has not ceased
To the point that it almost became slaughtered in passion.

20. What a difference between a day of Sajf and Kellah
And the bitterness of afflictions that wander and find relief!

21. O vine of ours, what do you bear and yet wither?
While the parts of the vine in front of the riding beast are supple.

22. We estimate the rest of the drops on the pebbles
While they on the good vine are winged.

23. And a day in scorching Al-Jawzah’, its pebbles kindled,
You almost see the corners of the eyes screaming from it.

24. Severe in flames, its wind hotter than its sun when it rises high,
With swirling dusty columns you see therein

25. The ranks of docile camels and unruly goats driven along.
I presented my face to it and a she-camel as if

26. From exhaustion and sadness a shrivelled hide full of salt.
Don’t you know that generosity is from my nature

27. And that every treacherous merchant scrapes by?
So do not forbid me if I ward off a cowardly attack

28. Just as I give comfort and let loose the reins.
He sees it rarely, unable to satiate his lack

29. At every present occasion he avails himself for profit.
She saw his estrangement from Al-Hanthalī as if it were

30. The frayed plaited cord of a water-skin, some of it loose threads.
It will suffice you and the guests if they descend on us,

31. If there is no roast meat, even salted millet porridge.
And a collective camel that is not concealed from our guests

32. While the winner is the one who makes himself available.
Stillness rising with difficulty as if it were

33. Suns melting the leaders and wasting away bodily fat.
When the waves surge in its enclosures

34. You see falsehood wandering aimlessly within its areas.
Did not the people forbid me on the grounds that I am not unjust,

35. Neither hostile, and that I make myself easygoing for those who come?
Among them is one whose heart was struck

36. And another who received a resounding slap making his cheek reddened.
O Abū Mālik, the Banū Mālik, Al-Farazdaq has cast a spell

37. Silencing you, while the young pigs laugh derisively at you.
He attained successes before opponents

38. While the horsemen of Ghan are cowardly and the son of Shi‘rah toils.
And there remains among us a predecessor, as you know

39. Who imitates the deeds of predecessors and praises.
Waves of the sea have lifted you, so grasp

40. With your hands - look which wave made you rise highest!
For my people, Mujāshi‘ is more faithful to a covenant

41. And better when the vile attack with slander.
The scales of the effeminate tilt down with Mujāshi‘

42. While my scale weighs heavy over them and tips.
So you boasted about Qais and I about Taghlib

43. And soon you will see which of the two parties is more profitable.
As for the Christians, the worshippers of their cross,

44. They failed while the Muslims succeeded.
Did it not come to them that Al-Akhṭal had fallen

45. And crashed into the fatal pit of a collapsing people?
His kinsmen made up for Al-Akhṭal’s loss

46. With a back like the back of the palace - most spacious.
Every year, we have a tax from you that protects us

47. Against any humiliation you face.
The sanctuary of Qais and Khindif has remained prohibited to you

48. A forbidden tract your pigs trespass and root up.
When Qais and Khindif seize you

49. With their regions, you know not where you can wander freely.
Indeed the swords of Hudhayl were let loose upon you

50. Stripping the provinces - there was no coat of mail among them.
And your cavalry arrogantly plunged into them

51. While you were at the coast of the two Zāb rivers taking comfort.
Upon them the onslaughts of iron as if they were

52. More scathing than a hot wind in unsheathed blades that clash.
And there remained for you a disgraceful day at Sinjār

53. And a more disgraceful day at ‘Aṭān Ar-Rawhabayn.
And you violated the honor of women at Al-Bashr

54. From whom the wrapped gowns were stripped away.
Through that we protected the country from you

55. So you have no firm foothold in its environs.
O Abū Mālik, elation has tilted your head

56. And you became confused when the ram of the battalion took fright.
Whenever you see a lion from (the tribe of) Taghlib

57. That lion is ugly and the one boasting is ugly.
You see a rubicund one from among them when unveiled

58. Ugly, and what is beneath the two veils is uglier.
Her palms did not touch the Ancient House, but

59. With an offering to the cross she wipes herself.
Above it are poured cups of wine while

60. The wheezing of the blackened pigs echoes.
So what claim do you have in Najd that you count

61. While you have no dunes in the Tihāmah valley that you can scout?

62. Thus we have protected the country from you
So you have no place in its outskirts you can slip into.