عَجِبتُ لِرَكبٍ فَرَّحَتهُم مُليحَةٌ

تَأَلَّقُ مِن بَينِ الذَنابينِ فَاِلمِعا

I was amazed at a caravan whose travelers were cheered

By a beautiful woman flashing among the camels.

فَلَم نَأتِها حَتّى لَعَنّا مَكانَها

وَحَتّى اِشتَفى مِن نَومِهِ صاحِبُ الكَرى

We did not reach her until we cursed where she was

And until the owner of the inn woke from his sleep.

فَلَمّا أَتَينا مَن عَلى النارِ أَقبَلَت

إِلَينا وُجوهُ المُصطَلينَ ذَوي اللَحى

When we came to those around the fire, their faces

Turned to us, men with beards well-groomed.

فَلَمّا نَزَلنا وَاِختَلَطنا بِأَهلِها

بَكوا وَاِشتَكَينا أَيَّ ساعَةَ مُشتَكى

When we got down and mingled with the people there,

They wept and complained - oh, what a time for complaints!

تَشَكّوا وَقالوا لا تَلُمنا فَإِنَّنا

أُناسٌ حَرامِيّونَ لَيسَ لَنا فَتى

They complained and said, "Do not blame us, for we

Are forbidden folk with no protector."

وَقالوا أَلا هَل مِن فَتىً مِثلَ غالِبٍ

وَأَيّايَ بِالمَعروفِ قائِلُهُم عَنى

And they said, "Oh, is there no brave youth like Ghalib

Reprimanding them for good?" And the center of the people's encampment

وَوَسطَ رِحالِ القَومِ بازِلُ عامِها

جَرَنبَذَةُ الأَسفارِ هَمّاسَةُ السُرى

An old camel, well-traveled, inquisitive,

When I looked over the camels, guarded them well,

فَلَمّا تَصَفَّحتُ الرِكابَ اِتَّقَت بِها

أُريدُ بَقِيّاتِ العَرائِكِ في الذُرى

As if I wanted the remaining litter in the pens.

I said, having cut off her leg with a sword,

أَقولُ وَقَد قَضَيتُ بِالسَيفِ ساقَها

حِرامَ بنِ كَعبٍ لا مَذَمَّةَ في القِرى

"Harm of Ka'b's clan - no blame in the villages!"

So for my companions, hosts, their guests

فَباتَ لِأَصحابي وَأَربابِ مَنزِلي

وَأَضيافِهِم رِسلٌ وَدِفءٌ وَمُشتَوى

Were messengers, warmth, and gathered wood.