ما لِلفَتى عَقَرَت حِجاهُ وَمالَهُ

حَمراءُ صافِيَةٌ فَقيلَ عُقارُ

What ails the young man who has shunned his kin and wealth?

A she-camel, bright red, called Ukar.

قُرِعَت بِماءٍ وَهيَ ذائِبُ عَسجَدٍ

فَطَفَت عَلَيهِ مِنَ اللُجَينِ نِقارُ

She was milked with water and was melting with desire,

So leeches clung to her from the muddy hollows.

أَودى أَبوها وَهوَ أَسوَدُ حالِكٌ

فَأَقامَ يَخلُفُهُ عَلَيها القارُ

Her owner perished while in utter darkness.

So the drones pitched camp around her.

لَو كانَ قُدساً ثُمَّ هَبَّت ريحُها

بِهِضابِهِ لَم يَبقَ فيهِ وَقارُ

Were she Sanctuary, and the winds blew against her slopes,

No honor would remain in her.

قَد أَفقَرَتهُ وَفي تَجَنُّبِها غِنىً

وَمِنَ المَليكِ غِناهُ وَالإِفقارُ

She has impoverished him, yet in avoiding her is wealth.

From the King comes wealth and poverty.

لَو تَحمِلُ الشَربُ الرَواسِيَ أَوهَموا

أَن لَيسَ فَوقَ ظُهورِهِم أَوقارُ

If the celestial spheres could bear drinking, they would imagine

No glory remains above their backs.