بَكَرَتْ وَاللَّيلُ في زِيِّ الغُدافِ

ساحِباتُ الرَّيْطِ مِنْ عَبْدِ مَنافِ

Dawn broke while night was still dressed in its dark garb,

The processions were leaving from ‘Abd Manāf

يَتَنَاجَيْنَ بِعَذْلي إِذ غَدَتْ

بِزَّتي دِرْعي وَأَلْقَيْتُ عِطافي

Talking secretly about my separation when morning came

With my coat of mail and mantle cast aside

يا نِساءَ الحَيِّ ما في أُذُنِي

مَسْلَكٌ لِلَّوْمِ فَاتْرُكنَ خِلافي

O women of the tribe, my ears hear no blame

So cease your criticism of my departure

إِنَّ ظِلَّ النَّقْعِ أَوْلَى بِالفَتَى

في طِلابِ العِزِّ مِنْ ظِلِّ الطِّرافِ

For the youth pursuing glory the shade of a banner

Is better than the shade of curtained litters

غَمَزَتْ مِنّي اللَّيالي صَعْدَةً

لَمْ يُقَوِّمْ دّرْءَها عَضُّ الثِّقافِ

Fate has struck me a blow

That not even staunchest armor could withstand

وَلَنا قادِمَةُ المَجْدِ إِذا

عَلِقَ المُقْرِفُ مِنْها بِالخَوافي

But glory will come to us when

The lance-bearer seizes its forelocks

وَالمُعاوِيُّ إِذا رامَ العُلا

نَعِرُ النِّيَّةِ نَسَّالُ القَوافي

And Mu‘āwiya, whenever he aspires

We blunt his purpose and make the meters lag