ما وَلَدَت أُمّي مِنَ القَومِ عاجِزاً

ما وَلَدَت أُمّي مِنَ القَومِ عاجِزاً

وَلا كانَ ريشي مِن ذُنابي وَلا لَغبِ

وَلا كانَ ريشي مِن ذُنابي وَلا لَغبِ

My mother did not bear me a weakling among my people;

My mother did not bear a weakling among the people.

nor was my plumage made of tail feathers, nor was I weary.

Nor were my feathers tail-feathers or inferior quills.

وَلا كُنتُ فَقعاً نابِتاً بِقَرارَةٍ

وَلا كُنتُ فَقعاً نابِتاً بِقَرارَةٍ

وَلَكِنَّني آوي إِلى عَطَنٍ رَحبِ

وَلَكِنَّني آوي إِلى عَطَنٍ رَحبِ

Nor was I a desert truffle sprouting in a low hollow;

Nor was I a truffle growing in a hollow,

rather, I take refuge in a spacious camel-fold.

But I take refuge in a spacious camel resting-ground by the water.

أُجيبُ إِذا الداعي دَعاني وَأَحتَمي

أُجيبُ إِذا الداعي دَعاني وَأَحتَمي

بِأَبيَضَ مَصقولٍ ضَريبتُهُ عَضبِ

بِأَبيَضَ مَصقولٍ ضَريبتُهُ عَضبِ

I answer whenever the caller summons me, and defend myself

I answer when the caller summons me, and defend myself

with a gleaming, polished sword whose cutting edge is keen.

With a bright, polished sword, keen of edge.

وَإِنّي لَمِن قَومٍ إِذا حارَبوا العِدى

وَإِنّي لَمِن قَومٍ إِذا حارَبوا العِدى

أَغاروا بِفتيانٍ مَغاويرَ كَالشهبِ

أَغاروا بِفتيانٍ مَغاويرَ كَالشهبِ

Indeed, I am of a people who, when they fight the foe,

And indeed I am of a people who, when they fight their foes,

charge with young, intrepid raiders like shooting stars.

Raid with fearless young warriors like shooting stars.

فَلا توعِدوني بِالفَخَارِ فَإِنَّني

فَلا توعِدوني بِالفَخَارِ فَإِنَّني

سَأَحمِلُكُم مِنّي عَلى مركِبٍ صَعبِ

سَأَحمِلُكُم مِنّي عَلى مركِبٍ صَعبِ

So do not threaten me with your proud boasts, for I

So do not threaten me with boasting, for I

shall force you, at my hands, to ride a hard and perilous course.

Shall, for my part, set you on a mount hard to ride.