يا عَينِ إِبكي فارِساً

حَسَنَ الطِعانِ عَلى الفَرَس

My eye pour forth tears for a horseman,

Skillful with the spear on his steed.

ذا مِرَّةٍ وَمَهابَةٍ

بَينا نُؤَمِّلُهُ اِختُلِس

Of awe and boldness,

Even as we had hopes for him very stealthily.

بَينا نَراهُ بادِياً

يَحمي كَتيبَتَهُ شَرِس

While we saw him in the open,

Defending his troop fiercely

كَاللَيثِ خَفَّ لِغيلِهِ

يَحمي فَريسَتَهُ شَكِس

Like a lion who suddenly lowered himself to his cubs,

Protecting his prey and breaking its neck.

يَذَرُ الكَمِيَّ مُجَدَّلاً

تَرِبَ المَناخِرِ مُنقَعِس

He left the coward confused and dejected,

Dust crusting his nostrils.

خَضَبَ السِنانَ بِطَعنَةٍ

فَالنَفسُ يَحفِزُها النَفَس

His spear bloodied with a stab

Urging his soul on.

فَالطَيرُ بَينَ مُراوِدٍ

يَدنو وَآخَرَ مُنتَهِس

The birds between a suitor

Who approaches and another who has drawn away disappointed.

نِعمَ الفَتى عِندَ الوَغى

حينَ التَصايُحِ في الغَلَس

Excellent was that youth in the fray

When the war cries in the battle intensified

فَلَأَبكِيَنَّكَ سَيِّداً

فَصلَ الخِطابِ إِذا اِلتَبَس

How I weep for that master

When the power of speech was severed.

مَن ذا يَقومُ مَقامَهُ

بَعدَ اِبنِ أُمّي إِذ رُمِس

Who now can take his place

After the son of Ummi when fate turned against him.

أَو مَن يَعودُ بِحِلمِهِ

عِندَ التَنازُعِ في الشَكَس

Or who will return with his forbearance

When dispute surrounds those sitting and those standing.

غَيثُ العَشيرَةِ كُلُّها

الغائِرينَ وَمَن جَلَس

The rain from which his people entirely benefited,

Those who attacked and those who held back.