أَمسى بَنو نَهشَلٍ نَيّانُ دونَهمُ

المُطعِمونَ اِبنَ جارِهِم إِذا جاعا

The sons of Nahshal yesterday were wolves,

Feeding the son of their neighbor when hungry,

كَأَنَّ زَيدَ مَناةَ بَعدَهُم غَنَمٌ

صاحَ الرِعاءُ بِها أَن تَهبِطَ القاعا

As if after them Zayd Manat were sheep

And the shepherds shouted at them to descend to the valley,

أَبلِغ بَني نَهشَلٍ عَنّي مُغَلغَلَةً

أَنَّ الحِمى بَعدَهُم وَالثَغرَ قَد ضاعا

Convey to the sons of Nahshal from me a message

That protection after them and the gap are lost.