بَكَرَت أُمَيَّةُ غُدوَةً بِرَهينِ

خانَتكَ إِنَّ القَينَ غَيرُ أَمينِ

Umayya set out at dawn, at Rahīn.

She betrayed you—for indeed, the smith is not to be trusted.

لا تَحزُنيني بِالفِراقِ فَإِنَّني

لا تَستَهِلُّ مِنَ الفِراقِ شُؤوني

Do not make me grieve over the parting, for

my tear ducts do not pour forth at separation.

وَلَقَد أَرِبتُ عَلى الهُمومِ بِجَسرَةٍ

عَيرانَةٍ بِالرِدفِ غَيرِ لَجونِ

Indeed, I have risen above my cares upon a sturdy she-camel,

wild-ass-like in the haunches, never sluggish;

شَرَفِيَّةٍ مِمّا تُوارِدُ مَنهَلاً

بِقَرينَةٍ أَو غَيرِ ذاتِ قَرينِ

a Sharaf-bred one, of those that come in succession to a watering place,

alongside a companion, or alone without one.

تَأوي إِلى ذي جُدَّتَينِ كَأَنَّهُ

كَرٌّ شَديدُ العَصبِ غَيرُ مَنينِ

She seeks shelter with a two-striped male, as though he were

a stout well-rope, tightly twisted and unworn,

أَوفى عَلى رُكنَينِ فَوقَ مَثابَةٍ

عَن جولِ نازِحَةِ الرِشاءِ شَطونِ

raised high over two supports above a wellhead,

from deep within a well where the water lies far down, its drawing-rope long.