أَلا وَدَّعتَ جيرانَها أَم أُسودا

وَضَنَّت عَلى ذي حاجَةٍ أَن يَزودا

Alas, she bid her neighbors farewell, the dark cliffs,

And was miserly to one in need, never offering provisions.

وَأَبغَض أَخلاق النِساءِ أَشَدَّهُ

إِلَيَّ فَلا تولن أَهلي تَشَدُّدا

Of women's traits I most despise in her utmost severity,

So turn not, my tribe, to sternness and rigidity.

وَسائِل بَني نَبهانَ عَنّا وَعِندَهُم

بَلاءٌ كَحَدِّ السَيفِ إِذ قَطَعَ اليَدا

Ask the Bani Nabhan about us, and with them

Is an affliction like the cut of a blade that severs the hand.

دَعوا مالِكاً ثُمَّ اِتصَلنا بِمالِكٍ

فَكانَ ذَكا مِصباحِهِ فَتَوَقَّدا

They left Malik, then we joined with Malik,

And his light, like a lamp, shone bright.

وَبَشر بنُ عَمرٍو قَد تَرَكَنا مُجَندلاً

يَنوءُ بِخطارٍ هُناكَ وَمَعبَدا

And Bashir son of 'Amr left us Mujannadal

Swaying with worry there and Ma'bad.

تَمَطَّت بِهِ قَوداءُ ذاتَ عُلالَةٍ

إِذا الصلدَمُ الخِنذيذ أَعيا وَبَلَّدا

The she-mule of 'Ulalah hobbled with him

When the jingling bridle-leather whimpered and palled.

لَقيناهُم نَستَنقِذُ الخَيلَ كَالقَنا

وَيَستَسلِبونَ السَمهَرِيِّ المُقَصَّدا

We met them to rescue the horses like ostriches

As they plundered the coveted Samharite.

فَيا رُبّ قدرٍ قَد كَفَأنا وَجَفنَةً

بِذي الرَمثِ إِذ يَدعونَ مَثنى وَموحِدا

So oh Lord of Fate, we clashed with Jafnah

At Thi Al-Ramth when they called for pairs and One.

عَلى أَنَّني أَثوي سِناني صَعدَتي

بِساقِين زيداً أَن يَبوءَ وَمَعبَدا

Yet I will store my spear, Sa'dah,

With legs swift as Zayd's, lest Ma'bad be laid waste.