قولا لبَكْرِ بنِ دَهْمَرْدٍ إذا اعْتَكَرَتْ

عَساكرُ اللّيلِ بينَ الطّاسِ والجامِ

Say to Bakr son of Dahmard when the armies of night

Are gathered between al-Tas and al-Jam,

أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لكَ إِنَّ البَغْيَ مَهْلَكَةٌ

والبَغْيُ والعُجْبُ إفسادٌ لأقوامِ

"Did I not tell you that transgression is ruinous

And transgression and pride corrupt men?

قد كنتَ تَفْرَقُ مِنْ سَهْمٍ بغانيةٍ

فصرتَ غيرَ رَميمٍ رُقْعَةَ الرَّامي

You once fled from a few stray arrows

Yet now you are patchwork pierced by every archer;

وكنتَ تَفْزَعُ مِنْ لَمْسٍ ومِنْ قُبَلٍ

فقد ذَلَلْتَ لإِسْراجٍ وإِلْجامِ

You once shied from a mere touch or kiss

Yet now are tamed by bridle and halter."

إنْ تَدْمَ فَخْذاكَ مِنْ رَكْضٍ فَرُبّمَتَأ

أُمْسي وقَلْبي عليكَ الموجَعُ الدَّامي

If your thighs are ripped by the ride, though you come

At eve, my agonized heart still bleeds for you.