وَاضْطَرَّهُ مِنْ أَيْمَنٍ وَشُؤمِ

صَرَّةَ صَرْصارِ العِتاقِ القُتْمِ

And he was forced from good fortune and ill,

Like the hissing of a viper in its den.

ضارِي المُضَرَّى بِطَرِيِّ اللَحْمِ

أَكْدَرُ كَالجُلْمُودِ يَوْمَ الرَجْمِ

Attacking the wounded with flesh tearing claws,

As muddy as granite on the day of stoning.

إِذَا تَقْضَّى مِنْ أَعالِي اللُجْمِ

ضَمَّ جَناحَيْهِ انْخِراطَ السَهْمِ

When it descends from the heights of the mound,

It folds its wings, like an arrow being drawn.

فَهُنَّ صَرْعَى مِنْ هَوِيِّ النَحْمِ

مِن أَحْجَن الكَلُّوب أَقْنَى الخَطْمِ

They are then prey to the swooping eagle,

With the sharpest beak and prominent chin.

يَخْتَطِف الأَرْواحَ قَبْلَ اللَطْمِ

بِهِ رَشَاشٌ مِنْ دَمِ المُسْتَدْمِي

Snatching souls before the blow,

With spattering blood from the slain.

لَأَثْنِيَنَّ صادِقاً بِعِلْمِي

بِفِعْلِ قَوْمِي فِي الغِنَى وَالعُدْمِ

I swear truthfully with my knowledge,

Regarding the deeds of my people in luxury and poverty.

وَهُمْ إِذَا زَاحَمَ يَوْمُ الزَحْمِ

وَصَدَّعَ الصَدْمُ جِبالَ الصَدْمِ

And when the day of crowding clashes,

And the collision shatters mountains of resistance.

في جاهِلِيَّاتٍ مَضَتْ أَوْ سِلْمِ

كَعْبُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ مِنْ وَرَائِي تَرْمِي

Whether in the Ignorance past or Islam,

Ka'b bin Sa'd is behind me shooting,

فِي بازِخِ العِزِّ عُرَاضٍ فَعْمِ

وَمَنْكِبُ الحارِثِ وَابْنَا رُهْمِ

In the isthmus of glory fully armed

And the shoulder of Al-Harith and the two sons of Ruhm.

وَمِنْ عَبِ الشَمْسِ حُماةُ العَزْمِ

وَسائِر الأَحْلافِ وَابْنَا عَثْمِ

And from the morning sun the protectors of resolve,

And the rest of the alliances and the two sons of ‘Athim.

فَالْيَوْمَ أَرْمِي بسَنَا ذِي جِسْمِ

بِكُلِّ صَرّافِ الشَبَا صِلَّخْمِ

Today I shoot with a bow of great body,

At every hissing viper in its den.

وَكُلِّ قَبْقَابِ الهَدِيرِ قَهْمِ

أَرْأَسَ ذي بَرَاثِنٍ دِلَّخمِ

And every croaking raven roaring,

The chief of those with serrated teeth.

يَأْوِي إِلَى عادِيِّ مَجْدٍ ضَخْمِ

وَعَدَدٍ مِنْ آلِ زَيْدٍ فَعْمِ

Taking refuge in the mighty ancestor,

And the numerous family of Zayd fully armed.

لَيْسَتْ أَوَاسِي عِزِّهِ بِدُرْمِ

مُنْيَتُهُ بَعْدَ الزَئِيرِ الزَأْمِ

Their protectors of glory are not by chance,

Their death after the roar and distress.

وَبَعْدَ قَبْقابِ الهَدِيرِ القَرْمِ

عَضُّ الذَفَارَى بِاخْتِضَارٍ خَضْمِ

And after the croaking raven snarling,

The biting of snakes with tearing fangs.