أَقوى مِنَ آلِ ظُلَيمَةَ الحُزمُ

فَالغَمرَتانِ فَأَوحَشَ الخَطمُ

More determined than the night’s darkness, grief

Two gloomy clouds, with scowling face

فَجَنُوبُ أَثبِرَةٍ فَمَلحَدُها

فَالسِدرَتانِ فَما حَوى دَسمُ

Then the breasts of a camel long since milked; no nourishment left behind

Two jujube trees, but no sweetness within

وَبما أَرى شَخصاً بِهِ حَسَناً

في القَومِ إِذ حَيَّتكُمُ نُعمُ

When I see a person of beauty among the tribe

As you are greeted, blessings abound

إِذ وُدُّها صافٍ وَرُؤيَتُها

أَمنِيَّةٌ وَكَلامُها غُنمُ

For her affection is pure, and to see her

A wish fulfilled, her words reward

هَيفاءُ مَملُوءٌ مُخَلخَلُها

عَجزاءُ لَيسَ لِعَظمِها حَجمُ

Graceful, though unsteady her gait

Feeble, her body slight of frame

خُمصانَةٌ قَلِقٌ مُوَشِّحُها

رَودُ الشَبابِ عِلابُها عَظمُ

Bashful and restless, her gown wraps her

The vigor of youth, her bones slim

وَكَأنَّ غالِيَةً تُباشِرُها

تَحتَ الثِيابِ إِذا صَفا النَجمُ

As if a slave girl caresses her

Beneath clothes, when stars shine bright

أَظُلَيمُ إِنَّ مُصابَكُم رَجُلاً

أَهدى السَلامَ تَحِيَّةً ظُلمُ

O night, your loss is a man

Who brought peace, greetings in the darkness

أَقصَيتِهِ وَأَرادَ سِلمَكُمُ

فَليَهِنهِ إِذ جاءَكِ السِلمَ

You dismissed him, though he sought your safety

So let him be, when peace he conveyed