إِذا كُنتَ بِالوَعساءِ مِن كُفَّةِ الغَضا

إِذا كُنتَ بِالوَعساءِ مِن كُفَّةِ الغَضا

لَقيتَ أُسَيدِيّاً بِها غَيرَ أَروَعا

لَقيتَ أُسَيدِيّاً بِها غَيرَ أَروَعا

If you are at al-Waʿsa, by the edge of the ghada trees,

When you are of the bleary-eyed from the scale of gloom

You will meet an Usaydi there, no brave man:

You will find a companion in it other than most wondrous

سَريعاً إِذا قيلَ الغَداءَ اِزدِلافُهُ

سَريعاً إِذا قيلَ الغَداءَ اِزدِلافُهُ

بَطيئاً إِذا داعي الصَباحِ تَشَنَّعا

بَطيئاً إِذا داعي الصَباحِ تَشَنَّعا

Swift is his approach when 'The morning meal!' is called,

Quick when it is said lunch is approaching

But slow when the dawn battle-crier raises a fierce alarm.

Slow when the caller of dawn grows weary