إِنّي وَإِن كانَت تَميمٌ عِمارَتي

وَكُنتُ إِلى القُدموسِ مِنها القُماقِمِ

Though Tamim was my home, and though I was the pillar of Qudamis,

I praise the young men of Bakr ibn Wa'il

لَمُثنٍ عَلى أَفناءِ بَكرِ اِبنِ وائِلٍ

ثَناءً يُوافي رَكبَهُم في المَواسِمِ

With praise that meets their caravan in seasons of coming and going.

On the day of Dhi Qar they halted and fiercely joined battle,

هُمُ يَومَ ذي قارٍ أَناخوا فَصادَموا

بِرَأسٍ بِهِ تُرمى صَفاةُ المُصادِمِ

With a leader before whom the bold warriors pale.

They halted against Chosroes when his armies came,

أَناخوا لِكِسرى حينَ جاءَت جُنودُهُ

وَبَهراءَ إِذ جاءَت وَجَمعُ الأَراقِمِ

And Bahra when his multitudes approached.

When they had repelled one flank of the foe, another came at them,

إِذا فَرَغوا مِن جانِبٍ مالَ جانِبٌ

عَلَيهِم فَذادوهُم ذِيادَ الحَوائِمِ

But they drove them off with the onslaught of calamity.

With famed, flashing swords that when they met

بِمَأثورَةٍ شُهبٍ إِذا هِيَ صادَفَت

ذُرى البيضِ أَبدَت عَن فِراخِ الجَماجِمِ

The skulls of the white foe revealed the brains within.

They did not cease until their women came to mourn them

فَما بَرِحوا حَتّى تَهادَت نِساؤُهُم

بِبَطحاءِ ذي قارٍ عِيابَ اللَطائِمِ

In the plains of Dhi Qar, wandering in distress.

Sufficient are my people, they who support their leader

كَفى بِهُمُ قَومَ اِمرِئٍ يَنصُرونَهُ

إِذا عَصِيَت أَيمانُهُم بِالقَوائِمِ

When their oaths are tested by disaster.

Men who, when the hound disowns its master,

أُناسٌ إِذا ما الكَلبُ أَنكَرَ أَهلَهُ

أَناخوا فَعاذوا بِالسُيوفِ الصَوارِمِ

Halt and seek refuge in merciless swords.