لِعَمرَةَ بَينَ الأَخرَمَينِ طُلولُ

تَقادَمَ مِنها مُشهِرٌ وَمُحيلُ

By the life of Umarah between the two encampments, her visiting tents

Receded, though a month still remained ere the season of departure,

وَقَفتُ بِها حَتّى تَعالى لِيَ الضُحى

لِأُخبِرَ عَنها إِنَّني لَسَؤولُ

I stood by them, till at morn they were struck and the people decamped;

I was questioned concerning them, and verily I am responsible.

فَإِن تَحسَبوها بِالحِجابِ ذَليلَةً

فَما أَنا يَوماً إِن رَكِبتُ ذَليلُ

If you suppose them to be mean, through being curtained,

Yet never have I on any occasion been mean.

سَأَمنَعُها في عُصبَةٍ ثَعلَبِيَّةٍ

لَهُم عَدَدٌ وافٍ وَعِزٌّ أَصيلُ

I will defend them with a party of the clan of Tai,

A full number, and of ancient and noble lineage.

فَإِن شِئتُمُ عُدنا صَديقاً وَعُدتُمُ

وَإِمّا أَبَيتُم فَالمَقامُ زَحولُ

If you choose to consider me a friend, you will find me steadfast;

But if you reject my suit, the sojourn will be brief.