كَأَنَّ اِبنَ عَمروٍ لَم يُصَبَّح لِغارَةٍ

بِخَيلٍ وَلَم يُعمِل نَجائِبَ ضُمَّرا

As if the son of 'Amr did not raid at dawn

With horses, nor don coat of mail or armor,

وَلَم يُجزِ إِخوانَ الصَفاءِ وَيَكتَسي

عَجاجاً أَثارَتهُ السَنابِكُ أَكدَرا

Nor share with brethren of purity their bread

Snatching away scraps though the loopholes darker.

وَلَم يَبنِ في حَرِّ الهَواجِرِ مَرَّةً

لِفِتيَتِهِ ظِلّاً رِداءً مُحَبَّرا

Nor once in the heat of noon built he a shade,

Of robes and mantle for his young warriors.

فَبَكّوا عَلى صَخرِ بنِ عَمروٍ فَإِنَّهُ

يَسيرٌ إِذا ما الدَهرُ بِالناسِ أَعسَرا

Then wept they over Sakhrs son, for he

When life glooms darkly, lightens the load of care.

يَجودُ وَيَحلو حينَ يُطلَبُ خَيرُهُ

وَمُرّاً إِذا يَبغي المَرارَةَ مُمقِرا

He gives when goodness is asked of his hand,

And bitter to the seeker of bitter fare.

فَخَنساءُ تَبكي في الظَلامِ حَزينَةً

وَتَدعو أَخاها لا يُجيبُ مُعَفَّرا

So Khanasaa laments in the dark and cries

And calls her brother who answers her nevermore.