انظُر لَعَلَّكَ أَن تَرى بِسوَيقَةٍ

انظُر لَعَلَّكَ أَن تَرى بِسوَيقَةٍ

أَو بالقُرَيَّةِ دونَ مَفضى عاقِلِ

أَو بالقُرَيَّةِ دونَ مَفضى عاقِلِ

Look—perhaps you may see at Suwayqah,

Look, perhaps you will see in Sawayqah

or at al-Qurayyah, before the outlet of ʿĀqil,

Or in the village less than a reasonable outlet

أَظعانَ سودَةَ كالإِشاءِ غَوادِياً

أَظعانَ سودَةَ كالإِشاءِ غَوادِياً

يَسلُكنَ بَينَ أَبارِقٍ وَخَمائِلِ

يَسلُكنَ بَينَ أَبارِقٍ وَخَمائِلِ

Sawdah’s camel litters, like date palms, setting out in the morning,

Rebellious black ones like the night wanderers

making their way among stony hills and thickets.

Who walk between lightning and tents