1. O dweller of encampments and abodes
Where people have stayed for long

2. Greet them, though I have no other desire
Than to renew the ancient bond

3. Dwellings once inhabited now deserted
Save for columns and summits high

4. The winds and rain have erased them
That you would think their lines just a mirage

5. Lightning zigzags and thunder rolls
As though igniting dry kindling, aflame

6. As if its flashes, the devotees’ lights
Chasing mounted warriors without rein

7. As though its rumbling is ostriches
Encountering other ostriches’ call

8. My two friends, stop and tell me
Why does she blame me? For what cause?

9. Rather than blame her, I refuse
To hurt or do harm in any way

10. By the Lord of swaying dancers, long-haired,
Clad in simple gowns from end to end

11. I love you Ummama, and every land
You settle, be it fertile or barren wild

12. When with Ummama I feel as though
I see goblets of wine served overflowing

13. Like a hunter dismounted, thirsty for drink
Wandering desperately seeking game

14. If Ummama willed, we would drink
Pure cold water to cure all sickness

15. She is not to be swayed, grazing the slope
Of the rugged land, will not come near

16. Arrows of archers miss their mark
Though archers take aim, she is without fear

17. Safe from arrows, safe from heroes’ blades
Casting or striking, she shows no care

18. Brighter than Ummama when she takes heed
Of elders or pursues her own affair

19. She keeps away though I say “come close!”
Like a herd startled, fearing the rein

20. If asked of her, speak well, without doubt
Or quarrel; she camped a valley of palms

21. Where the prosperity adorned her, so she shone
Like sunrise dispelling darkness and gloom

22. As if the meadow, with its rivers clothed
When she ties it ‘round her waist like a gown

23. You see the fenced and bridged cane thicket
Bend in line with her, upright and straight

24.
If not for her gait, proud, disdainful

25. Haughty and high, like a mirage afloat
The anklets on her feet would break

26. And one would think them thin as a rope
If Ummama went out on feast day

27. People would extend their hands in need
You’d see the pretty dark girls draw near

28. Fearing sadness, disliking the crowd
God forbid they come close, even if dressed

29. In fine linen robes and silk, perfumed!
Truly each of Ummama’s days calls for truth

30. Though she is rarely visited, or comes to visit
As for when I go to her, I feel

31. As if lightning bolts strike me from every side!
O Ummama, by the Lord of Moses, you

32. Are more beloved to me than one who fasts and prays
When uncertainties clear, it will be known

33. Huraym and Ibn Achwaz showed no weakness
Guarding Khindif from his enemies

34. As the fires of war burned hot between
When Rabee’ah betrayed and appealed

35. To the tyrant who summoned the mob
They disappointed them, their gifts no good,

36. The Ghulam of Azd pursued them fast
Made them retreat, and handed them over

37. At Malhama while their rout was made plane
They did not guard the women, who saw her there

38. Without covers—evil for those men!
Whoever contends with us will know

39. We lead, with standards raised outright
Did you not see those saved were on us

40. Depending fully to guard their plight?
They set swords bare from Uzayr unsheathed

41. Cursed are they, what an awful blight!
Horses turn back to trample their fallen foes

42. Wretched men lie dead from the fight
Those who reached Haziz fled in haste

43. Leaving their banners behind in their plight

44. So taste well the strike of lofty heroes!
People of Yamama, no escape in sight!

45. Bakr we raised the sword from, else
They would have perfectly divided the spoil

46. That day when seeing us draw out the lion
They wished to mount ostriches in flight!

47. Abd al-Qays turned back all disgraced
People of Oman met with loss and plight

48.
Wandering far from Wasit until

49. Their remnants ended, arriving terrified
Some saved, but wounded in their bodies

50. Others missing limbs, cleaned of might

51. If not for our brothers Quraysh
And that we do not violate the sanctified

52. They are the guardians over us
The best of people in pardon and might

53. We would have marched out against those tribes
And we would have covered people in blight

54. We held back Najd’s whiteness with spears
Killing great formidable heroes with might

55. With brown blades like torches aflame
Our hands whirl them like a spindle’s height

56.
How many a group we have advanced upon

57. At their lands protected, striking hard blows
Who in late nights rest then set out at dawn

58. The later ones twisting paths for those slow
With tall Uqaylid steeds whose breath

59. Nearly tears loose girths binding them tight