1. لَمّا أَن رَأَيتُ بَني حُيَيٍّ

    عَرَفتُ شَناءَتي فيهِم وَوِتري

    When I saw the sons of Huyayy,

    I knew my hatred for them and the wrong I had to avenge.

  2. رَمَيتُهُمُ بِوَجزَةَ إِذ تَواصَوا

    لِيَرموا نَحرَها كَثَباً وَنَحري

    I charged at them on Wajzah when they urged one another

    To strike her chest at close range, and mine.

  3. إِذا نَفَذتُهُم كَرَّت عَلَيهِم

    كَأَنَّ فَلُوَّها فيهِم وَبِكري

    Whenever I broke through them, she wheeled back against them,

    As though her foal and my firstborn were among them,

  4. بِذاتِ الرِمثِ إِذ خَفَضوا العَوالي

    كَأَنَّ ظُباتِها لَهَبانُ جَمرِ

    At Dhat al-Rimth, when they lowered their lances,

    As though their points were a blaze of embers.

  5. فَلَم أَنكُل وَلَم أَجبُن وَلَكِن

    يَمَمتُ بِها أَبا صَخرِ بنِ عَمرِو

    Yet I did not recoil or lose courage; instead,

    I made for Abu Sakhr ibn Amr on her.

  6. شَكَكتُ مَجامِعَ الأَوصالِ مِنهُ

    بِنافذَةٍ عَلى دَهَشٍ وَذُعرِ

    I pierced the meeting-points of his limbs

    With a piercing thrust, amid bewilderment and dread.

  7. تَرَكتُ الرُمحَ يَبرُقُ في صَلاهُ

    كَأَنَّ سِنانَهُ خُرطومُ نَسرِ

    I left the spear gleaming in his loins,

    As though its spearhead were a vulture's beak.

  8. فَإِن يَبرَأ فَلَم أَنفِث عَلَيهِ

    وَإِن يَهلِك فَذَلِكِ كانَ قَدري

    So if he recovers, I have breathed no healing charm over him;

    And if he perishes, that was my intent.