تَأَبَّدَتِ العَجالِزُ مِن رِياحٍ

تَأَبَّدَتِ العَجالِزُ مِن رِياحٍ

وَأَقفَرَتِ المَدافِعُ مِن خُراقِ

وَأَقفَرَتِ المَدافِعُ مِن خُراقِ

Al-ʿAjāliz has grown desolate, bereft of Riyāḥ;

and al-Madāfiʿ has become deserted, bereft of Khurāq.

وَأَقفَرَ مِن بَني كَعبٍ جُباحٌ

وَأَقفَرَ مِن بَني كَعبٍ جُباحٌ

فَذو عَثَثٍ إِلى وادي العَناقِ

فَذو عَثَثٍ إِلى وادي العَناقِ

Jubāḥ has become deserted, bereft of the sons of Kaʿb,

and Dhū ʿAthath, as far as the valley of al-ʿAnāq.

وَكانوا يَدفَعونَ الخَصمَ عَنّي

وَكانوا يَدفَعونَ الخَصمَ عَنّي

فَيُقصِرُ وَهوَ مَشدودُ الحِناقِ

فَيُقصِرُ وَهوَ مَشدودُ الحِناقِ

And they used to drive the adversary away from me,

so he would desist, the noose drawn tight around his neck.