شكَت صَهَوات الخيل والسُّمر والظبى

وهُنَّ المواضي والشِّدادُ الصَّلادِم

The horses complained of the night-journey and the ostriches,

And the meadows were downcast and the sharp swords.

مَغارَ الهثمام الأريحيِّ مُقَلَّدٍ

وإِقْدامَهُ واليوم بالنَّقْعِ قاتِمُ

The caves of Al-Hutham, the perfumed, were adorned

With his determination, as the day was gloomily dark.

كما تشتكي منه لدى كلِّ مأزِقٍ

رقابٌ إذا جَدَّ الوَغى وجَماجمُ

Throats complain of him in every strait,

When the battle intensifies and the skulls.

فحسرى لها من مُرهف العزم سابقٌ

وكَسْرى لها بالضرب والطَّعن حاطم

So it is regrettable for them someone of keen determination preceding,

And regrettable for them one who shatters with striking and stabbing.

جريءٌ كنصل السيف أما فِرنْدُه

فزيْنٌ وأما حَدُّهُ فهو صارِمُ

Brave as the cutting edge of a sword, yet his face

Is beautiful, and his limit is sharp.

إذا أندياتُ الحي أنْثَتْ بجودِهِ

وبالحلم أنْثَتْ بالنِّزالِ المَلاحم

When the man cried out with his generosity,

And with patience the man cried out with the exemplary courage.

فهاميَةٌ في سَلْمِهِ ونِزالِهِ

دماءُ الأعادي ثَرَّةً والمَكارِمُ

So he is protective during peace and war,

The blood of enemies abundant and the noble acts.

ورجراجةٍ كالجون بالدم حافلٍ

رواعِدُها ضوْضاؤها والغَماغِمُ

And rumbling as the torrent with blood swirling,

Its poles roaring and the warring.

غدا الصُّبح منها ليلةً مُدْلَهمَّةً

كواكبها البيض الظُّبى واللَّهاذِمُ

The dawn has become from it a darkened night,

Its shining stars the ibexes and the warriors.

وضاقتْ بها القيعانُ حتى تداوست

سنابك واصْطَكَّ القَنا والصَّوارم

The valleys narrowed around it until they rubbed against each other

The horseshoes and the spears clashed.

وفرَّ لها الوحش العزيبُ فأقفرت

أداحِيُّ من ظِلْمانها وصَرائِم

The shy game fled so it emptied

Its slopes, its darkness, and its precipices.

بها كلُّ مشبوحِ الذراع يُقِلُّهُ

وينْقُلهُ سَهْلُ القِيادِ ضُبارِمُ

With it every broad-armed is humbled

And transferred by the easy lead, the knights.

كأنَّ قَناها بالفَلاةِ وَشيجَةٌ

وفُرسانَها آسادُها والضَّراغِمُ

As if its steeds in the wilderness are Saiga antelopes

And its horsemen lions, wolves, and snarling beasts.

أباحَتْ حِماها حمْلةٌ ناصريَّةٌ

فأخصب ذؤبانُ الفَلا والقَشاعِمُ

A Nasirid army opened its sanctuary so the hyenas of the deserts prospered

A youth whose endeavor for wealth is erect and new

فتىً سعْيهُ للمال بانٍ مُشيِّدٌ

ولكنَّهُ بالفضْلِ والجودِ هادِمُ

But he in nobility and generosity is a demolisher

He turns the youth of the army violent, his might magnificent

يَفُلُّ شَباةَ الجيش رائعُ بأسهِ

كما فلَّتِ المَحْلَ الشَّنيع المكارِم

As the new moon turned away in shame, the dishonorable nobles.

For the guest and ravens at dawn and nightfall

فللضيف والعِقبان بالصبح والدجى

من الكومِ والذِّمْر الكميِّ مَطاعِم

Are ample foods from the heap and gathered pile.

When the heights of ‘Ulayy boast and recount

إذا افتخرت عُلْيا عُقيلٍ وعُدِّدتْ

حوادثُ منْ عَلْيائها وقَدايمُ

Events from its loftiness and ancient times.

Then the endeavor of ash-Shunaynah follows boasting

فأعْقبَها مسْعى الشُّنينةِ مفْخراً

يَوَدُّ سَناهُ الأوَّلُ المُتَقادِمُ

Wishing its past is the first and earliest.

Its glory eclipsed the glory of the adorned one and clamored

شَآى مَجْدَها مجدُ المُقَلَّدِ وارْعوى

القديمُ وأضحى مُنجِماً وهو ناجمُ

The old and it became a star while it was sleeping.