تزورُ بيَ القَرمَ الحَوارِيَّ إِنَّهُم

مَناهِلُ أَعداد إِذا القَومُ أَقطَعوا

The noble houses of Al-Qaram visit me, for they are

Fountains of generosity when people are miserly.

وَإِن لَبِسوا العَصبَ اليَمانِيَّ واِنتَدوا

فَبِالجودِ أَيديهِم سِباط تَرَيَّعُ

Though they wear the Yemeni turban and become excited,

Their hands, through generosity, dress others in fine robes.

نَشيعٌ بِماءِ البَقل بَينَ طَرائِقٍ

مِنَ الخَلقِ ما مِنهُنَّ شَيءٌ مُضَيَّعُ

A people who share water and vegetation among the roadways

Neglecting nothing of creation in their generosity.

تَوَسَّطَها غالٍ عَتيقٌ وَزانَها

مُعَرَّسُ مَهريّ بِهِ الذَيلُ يَلمَعُ

A mature, vintage she-camel paces their caravan,

Her long tail swaying magnificently as she walks.

فَقُلتُ أَتَبكي ذات طَوقٍ تذكَّرت

هَديلاً وَقَد أَودى وَما كانَ تُبَّعُ

So I said, “Why do you weep, O adorned one, remembering

Hudhail, though he perished and was not immortal?”

عُيونٌ تَرامَت بِالرُعافِ كَأَنَّها

مِنَ السوقِ صِردانٌ تَدِفُّ وَتَلمَعُ

Eyes shedding copious tears as if they were

Pearls pouring from a necklace, glistening and streaming.

وَفي الرَكبِ إِلّا أَن عَيناً وَرقبَةً

عَقائِلُ قَومٍ لَيسَ فيهِنَّ مَطمَعُ

In the caravan, only the eyes and necks are

The women’s ornaments - in them is no blemish.

تَعَلَّقَ هذا القَلبُ مِنّي علاقَةً

تَضُرُّ فَلَو كانَت مَع الضُرِّ تَنفَعُ

My heart clings to them in a way

That hurts, but if with hurt there is benefit, it helps.