عَرَفتُ مَنازِلاً مِن آلِ هِندٍ
عَفَت بَينَ المُؤَبَّلِ وَالشَوِيِّ
I knew the abodes of the family of Hind
Nestled between al-Mu'abbil and al-Shawi
تَقادَمَ عَهدُها وَجَرى عَلَيها
سَفِيٌّ لِلرِياحِ عَلى سَفِيِّ
Their era has passed as time flowed over them
A smooth ground for winds in the plains
تَراها بَعدَ دَعسِ الحَيِّ فيها
كَحاشِيَةِ الرِداءِ الحِميَرِيِّ
You see them after the torrents coursed them
Like the hem of a reddish cloak
أَكُلُّ الناسِ تَكتُمُ حُبَّ هِندٍ
وَما تُخفي بِذَلِكَ مِن خَفِيِّ
Though people conceal their love for Hind
Naught can hide what's kept secret
غَذِيَّةُ بَينِ أَبوابٍ وَدورٍ
سَقاها بَردُ رائِحَةِ العَشِيِّ
A feast between chambers and houses
Watered by the coolness of dusk's scent
مُنَعَّمَةٌ تَصونُ إِلَيكَ مِنها
كَصَونِكَ مِن رِداءٍ شَرعَبِيِّ
Luxurious, guarding for you from them
As you guard your striped cloak
يَظَلُّ ضَجيعُها أَرِجاً عَلَيهِ
مُقارَفَةً مِنَ المِسكِ الذَكِيِّ
Its dweller remains perfumed upon it
Intimate with fine musk
يُعاشِرُها السَعيدُ وَلا تَراها
يُعاشِرُ مِثلَها جَدُّ الشَقِيِّ
The fortunate enjoys it, none can see it
Nor can the wretched's sires
فَما لَكَ غَيرُ تَنظارٍ إِلَيها
كَما نَظَرَ الفَقيرُ إِلى الغَنِيِّ
So why do you but gaze at it
As the destitute looked upon the wealthy?
فَأَبلِغ عامِراً عَنّي رَسولاً
رِسالَةَ ناصِحٍ بِكُمُ حَفِيِّ
Inform 'Amir, carrying my missive
A counselor's message, guarded, discreet
فَإِيّاكُم وَحَيَّةَ بَطنِ وادٍ
هَموزَ النابِ لَيسَ لَكُم بِسِيِّ
Beware the snake in the belly of the valley
Baring fangs, no trivial foe is he
فَحُلّوا بَطنَ عُقمَةَ وَاِتَّقونا
إِلى نَجرانَ في بَلَدٍ رَخِيِّ
Set forth from 'Uqma's belly, beware
To Najran in a vast land
فَكَم مِن دارِ صِدقٍ قَد أَباحَت
لِقَومِهِمُ رِماحُ بَني عَدِيِّ
How many a house of friendship
Their spears made lawful for their tribe
فَما إِن كانَ عَن وُدٍّ وَلَكِن
أَباحوها بِصُمِّ السَمهَرِيِّ
Not out of love, but deafly
They made them lawful by Shemr's poison
وَكُلِّ مُفاضَةٍ جَدلاءَ زَغفٍ
مُضاعَفَةٍ وَأَبيَضَ مَشرَفِيِّ
And every deep-rooted, firm-standing Ghazif
Redoubled, and shining Mashrafi
وَمُطَّرِدِ الكُعوبِ كَأَنَّ فيهِ
قُدامى ذي مَناكِبَ مَضرَحِيِّ
Pushing the heels, as if in them
Were Qudama's shoulders, strong and square
إِذا خَرَجَت أَوائِلُهُنَّ يَوماً
مُلَجلَجَةً بِجِنٍّ عَبقَرِيِّ
When their vanguards set out one day
Noisily with skilled Jinn
مَنَعنَ مَنابِتَ القُلّامِ حَتّى
عَلا القُلّامُ أَفواهَ الرَكِيِّ
They barred the lance-plants until
The lances rose over the slim spear-shafts
كَفَوا سَنِتينَ بِالأَصيافِ بُقعاً
عَلى تِلكَ الجِفارِ مِنَ النَفِيِّ
They covered two summers in spots
Upon those rough ground with banishment
أَتَغضَبُ أَن يُساقَ القَهدُ فيكُم
فَمَن يَبكي لِأَهلِ الساجِسِيِّ
Are you aggrieved the compact should be led amongst you
Then who shall weep for Saqissi's clan?
