صُبَّتْ على حِمْيَرٍ وما انتَهبُوا

بِيضٌ رِقاقٌ وشُزَّبٌ قُبُّ

The whiteness spilled upon the donkeys yet they did not steal.

Pieces of thin, fine bread and dried up crumbs,

لُفَّتْ على حيِّهم عجاجَتُنا

والشمسُ غَضٌّ شعاعِها رَطْبُ

Our bottles wrapped around their necks,

While the dewy rays of the sun are still moist.

جئناهُمُ والسماءُ مُصحِيَةٌ

والأرضُ خضراءُ نبتُها القُضْبُ

We came upon them while the sky was awake

And the earth still green, its plants still juicy and fresh,

فما انثنينا إلّا وجَوُّهُمُ

أكلفُ والشمسُ قانِئٌ غضبُ

No sooner did we turn around than their faces

Frowned, while the sun grew calm in its rage.

لم تَنْجُ منهم إلّا مخَدَّرةٌ

دافعَ عنها الرِّعاثُ والقُلبُ

None survived save an intoxicated one

Defended by instinct and heart.