إِذا ناقَةٌ شُدَّت بِرَحلٍ وَنُمرُقٍ

إِلى حَكَمٍ بَعدي فَضَلَّ ضَلالُها

When a she-camel is saddled with a howdah and saddle-cloth

To a judge, after me, his misguidance overwhelms her

كَأَنَّ بِهِ إِذ جِئتَهُ خَيبَرِيَّةً

يَعودُ عَلَيهِ وِردُها وَمُلالُها

As though, when you come to him like a Khaybarian she-camel

Her habitual pasture and tranquility return to her

كَأَنّي حَلَوتُ الشِعرَ حينَ مَدَحتُهُ

صَفا صَخرَةٍ صَمّاءَ يَبسٍ بِلالُها

It's as if I sweetened poetry when I praised him

A barren, deaf rock whose camels' resting-place is desolate

أَلا تَقبَلُ المَعروفَ مِنّا تَعاوَرَت

مَنولَةُ أَسيافاً عَلَيكَ ظِلالُها

Why don't you accept good from us, brandishing

Swords over you, their shadows cast

هَمَمتَ بِخَيرٍ ثُمَّ قَصَّرتَ دونَهُ

كَما ناءَتِ الرَجزاءُ شُدَّ عِقالُها

You intended good, but fell short of it

Like a mare held back, her bridle pulled

مَنَعتَ قَليلاً نَفعُهُ وَحَرَمتَني

قَليلاً فَهَبها بَيعَةً لا تُقالُها

You denied a little profit and deprived me

Of a little - so grant it in a pledge that cannot be undone

تَلَقَّيتَني يَومَ النُجَيرِ بِمَنطِقٍ

تَرَوَّحُ أَرطى سُعدَ مِنهُ وَضالُها

You met me on the day of Nujayr with words

With which Sa'd takes comfort, and his camels their grazing