أبلغ شهابَ بني بكر وسيدَّها

أبلغ شهابَ بني بكر وسيدَّها

أعني بذاك ابا الصهباءِ بسطاما

أعني بذاك ابا الصهباءِ بسطاما

Tell the blazing star of Banu Bakr and their chief—

Convey to the radiant stars of Bani Bakr and their chief

By that I mean Abu al-Sahba', Bistam.

I mean Abu Al-Sahba of Bostaam

أروى الأسنَّةَ من قومي فأنهلها

أروى الأسنَّةَ من قومي فأنهلها

فاصبحوا في بقيع الأرض نوّاما

فاصبحوا في بقيع الأرض نوّاما

He slaked the spearheads' thirst on my people, then gave them drink.

I quench the thirst of my people from its spring and give them drink

So morning found them sleepers on an open tract of earth.

So they spend the mornings in meadows lying down

لا يطبقون اذا هَبَّ النيام ولا

لا يطبقون اذا هَبَّ النيام ولا

في مرقدٍ يحلمون الدهر احلاما

في مرقدٍ يحلمون الدهر احلاما

They do not close [their eyes] when the sleepers wake, nor

They do not fold up when slumber descends nor

Do they ever dream dreams in their resting place.

Dream dreams forever in their beds

اشجى تميم بن مرّ لا مكايدة

اشجى تميم بن مرّ لا مكايدة

حتى استعادوا له أسرى وانعاما

حتى استعادوا له أسرى وانعاما

He brought grief to Tamim ibn Murr, not through trickery,

The grief of Tameem ibn Morr was inconsolable

Until they recovered captives and livestock for him.

Until they brought back to him captives and booty

هلاّ أسيراً فَدَتكَ النفسَ تُطعمُهُ

هلاّ أسيراً فَدَتكَ النفسَ تُطعمُهُ

مما أرادَ وقِدماً كنت مطعاما

مما أرادَ وقِدماً كنت مطعاما

Will you not feed a captive—may my soul be your ransom—

If only a captive whose life you could ransom

Some of what he desired? Of old, you were a lavish giver of food.

Feeding him whatever he wished, when you were his food