تَشَكّى الكُمَيتُ الجَريَ لَمّا جَهَدتُهُ

وَبَيَّنَ لَو يَسطيعُ أَن يَتَكَلَّما

The she-camel complained to me when I overburdened her,

And made clear that if she could speak, she would.

فَقُلتُ لَهُ إِن أَلقَ لِلعَينِ قُرَّةً

فَهانَ عَلَينا أَن تَكِلَّ وَتَسأَما

I said to her, "If carrying the load brings delight to my eyes,

Then it is easy for us if you moan and become weary."

عَدِمتُ إِذاً وَفري وَفارَقتُ مُهجَتي

لَئِن لَم أَقِل قَرناً إِذا اللَهُ سَلَّما

If so, I would be ruined, and my resolve would leave me;

Were I not to carry my supplies, even if at ease and safe.

لِذَلِكَ أُدني دونَ خَيلي رِباطَهُ

وَأَوصي بِهِ أَن لا يُهانَ وَيُكرَما

Therefore I walk beside my camel to fasten her saddle,

And instruct that she not be humiliated, but honored.

فَما راعَها إِلّا الأَغَرَّ كَأَنَّهُ

عُقابٌ هَوَت مُنقَضَّةً قَد رَأَت دَما

She paid it no heed, bounding away like a vicious eagle

Who dives down, having spotted blood.

فَقُلتُ لَهُم كَيفَ الثُرَيّا هَبِلتُمُ

فَقالوا سَتَدري ما نَكَرنا وَتَعلَما

I said to them, "Why did you panic over the she-camel?"

They said, "You will know what we disliked and understand."

هُنالِكَ فَاِنزِل فَاِستَرِح فَإِذا بَدَت

ثُرَيّاكَ في أَترابِها الحورِ كَالدُمى

Thereupon dismount and rest, but when your she-camel

Appears among her companions like a bloody corpse,

يُرِدنَ اِحتِيازَ السِرِّ مِنكَ فَلا تَبُح

بِما لَم تَكُن عَنهُ لَدَينا مُجَمجِما

Seeking to conceal the secret from you, do not divulge

What was not disclosed to us—not even a hint.