أَلا بَكَرَت عِرسي تُوائِمُ مَن لَحى

وَأَقرَبَ بِأَحلامِ النِساء مِنَ الرَدى

Alas my wedding came when cheeks grew bearded

And dreams of women closer to repentance

أَفي جَنبِ بَكرٍ قَطَّعَتني مَلامَةً

لَعَمري لَقَد كانَت مَلامَتُها ثِنى

By a virgin's side did censure slice me through

By my life, her censure was a doubled blow

أَلا لا تَلومي وَيبَ غَيرِكِ عارِياً

رَأى ثَوبَهُ يَوماً مِنَ الدَهرِ فَاِكتَسى

Do not blame me, others bare I've spied

Who've clothed themselves throughout time in dignity

فَأُقسِمُ لَولا أَن أُسِرَّ نَدامَةً

وَأُعلِنَ أُخرى إِن تَراخَت بِكَ النَوى

I swear had I not feared a shame confessed

Another hinted, as resolve in you gave way

وَقيلُ رِجالٍ لا يُبالونَ شَأنَنا

غَوى أَمرُ كَعبٍ ما أَرادَ وَما اِرتَأى

And the saying, "Men who care not for our plight"

Went astray Kacb's desire and wisdom's sway

لَقَد سَكَنَت بَيني وَبَينَكِ حِقبَةً

بِأَطلائِها العَينُ المُلَمَّعَةُ الشَوى

For so long estrangement sat between us two

With glances from eyes violent in their heat

فَيا راكِباً إِما عَرَضتَ فَبَلِّغَن

بَني مِلقَطٍ عَني إِذا قيلَ مَن عَنى

So rider, if you happen by, relay

The sons of Milqat I was he who they meant

فَما خِلتُكُم يا قَومُ كُنتُم أَذِلَّةً

وَما خِلتَكُم كُنتُم لِمُختَلِسٍ جَنى

My people, whence I left you were so lowly

Ne'er did I desert you to a thief's domain

لَقَد كُنتُم بِالسَهلِ وَالحَزنِ حَيَّةً

إِذا لَدَغَت لَم تَشفِ لَدغَتَها الرُقى

You were with flatlands and with grief a snake

Whose sting no charm could ever heal again

فَإِن تَغضَبوا أَو تُدرِكوا لي بِذِمَّةٍ

وَأَصبَحَ زَيدٌ بَعدَ فَقرٍ قَد اِقتَنى

If you grow angry or bind me to contract

Then Zayd morned in poverty's trap ensnared

وَإِن الكُمَيتَ عِندَ زَيدٍ ذِمامَةٌ

وَما بِالكُمَيتِ مِن خَفاءٍ لِمَن رَأى

Truly with Zayd the bond is now one of might

No more obscurity for one who's seen the snare

يَبينُ لِأَفيالِ الرِجالِ وَمِثلُهُ

يَبينَ إِذا ما قيدَ في الخَيلِ أَو جَرى

Proof to the elephants of all men he shows

Proof when saddled amongst horses does he bear

مُمَرٌّ كَسَرحانِ القَصيمَةِ مُنعَلٌ

مَساحِيَ لا يُدمي دَوابِرَها الوَجى

A racehorse like the best steed of Qasim

Tearing ground not marred by any track or rut

شَديدُ الشَظى عَبلُ الشَوى شَنِجُ النَسا

كَأَنَّ مَكانَ الرِدفِ مِن ظَهرِهِ وَعى

Hard and unyielding, determined in the haul

As if the saddle's place was his flesh bare