لَو كُنتُ في غُمدانَ أَو في عَمايَةٍ

لَو كُنتُ في غُمدانَ أَو في عَمايَةٍ

إِذاً لَأَتاني مِن رَبيعَةَ راكِبُ

إِذاً لَأَتاني مِن رَبيعَةَ راكِبُ

Had I been in Ghumdan or in ‘Amayah,

Were I in Ghumdan or in 'Amayah,

Then a rider from Rabi‘ah would surely have come to me,

Then would come to me from Rabee'ah a rider,

بِوادي الحُشَيفِ أَو بِجُرزَةَ أَهلُهُ

بِوادي الحُشَيفِ أَو بِجُرزَةَ أَهلُهُ

أَوِ الجَوفِ طَبٌّ بِالنِزالَةِ دارِبُ

أَوِ الجَوفِ طَبٌّ بِالنِزالَةِ دارِبُ

His people dwelling in the valley of al-Hushayf, or in Jurzah,

By the valley of Hushaif or Jurzah and its people,

Or in al-Jawf—a seasoned expert at seeking hospitality.

Or al-Jawf, goodly home with hospitality,

يُثيرُ الكِلابَ آخِرَ اللَيلِ صَوتُهُ

يُثيرُ الكِلابَ آخِرَ اللَيلِ صَوتُهُ

كَضَبِّ العَرادِ خَطوُهُ مُتَقارِبُ

كَضَبِّ العَرادِ خَطوُهُ مُتَقارِبُ

His voice rouses the dogs in the last hours of night;

His voice at the end of night rouses the dogs,

Like a spiny-tailed lizard among the saltwort, his steps are close together.

His steps close together like weaver's shuttle,

فَباتَ يُمَنّينا الرَبيعَ وَصَوبَهُ

فَباتَ يُمَنّينا الرَبيعَ وَصَوبَهُ

وَسَطَّرَ مِن لُقّاعَةٍ وَهوَ كاذِبُ

وَسَطَّرَ مِن لُقّاعَةٍ وَهوَ كاذِبُ

So he spent the night raising our hopes of spring and its rainfall,

He spent the night blaming spring and reproving it,

And spun tales with a glib tongue, all the while lying.

And wrote of Luqaa'ah though he is a liar.