تقولُ لي أختُ عَبسٍ ما أرى إِبلاً

وأنت تزعم مَن والاك صِنديدُ

A woman of ʿAbs says to me, “I see no camels,”

“yet you claim that whoever stands by you is a mighty champion.”

فقلتُ يكفي مكانُ اللومِ مُطَّرِدٌ

فيه القَتيرُ بسَمرِ القَينِ مَشدودُ

I answered, “In place of reproach, a thrusting spear is enough—

its ironwork fastened tight with the smith’s dark rivets—

وشِكَّةٌ صاغَها وَفراءَ كامِلَةً

وصارِمٌ من سيوف الهندِ مَقدودُ

and a suit of arms he fashioned, ample and complete,

and a keen blade, fashioned from the swords of India.

إنِّي ليرعَى رجالٌ لي سوامَهُمُ

لي العقائل منها والمقاحِيدُ

Indeed, men are tending their grazing herds for me;

mine are the choicest among them, and the hardiest camels.”