لَهُم إِبلٌ لا مِنْ دياتٍ وَلَمْ تَكُنْ

لَهُم إِبلٌ لا مِنْ دياتٍ وَلَمْ تَكُنْ

مُهوراً ولا مِنْ مَكْسَبٍ غَير طائِلِ

مُهوراً ولا مِنْ مَكْسَبٍ غَير طائِلِ

They have camels—not from blood money, nor were they

They have camels, not from blood-money nor were they

bridal payments, nor from any paltry means of gain.

Dowries, nor from any great gain,

وَلَكِن حماها مِن شَماطيط غارَةٍ

وَلَكِن حماها مِن شَماطيط غارَةٍ

حَلالَ العَوالي فارِسٌ غَيرُ سائِلِ

حَلالَ العَوالي فارِسٌ غَيرُ سائِلِ

But from a raid’s scattered bands they were guarded—

But a horseman, not asking payment, protected them

lawful spoils of spearpoints—by a horseman, no beggar.

From the raids of bandits.

مُحَبّسَة في كُلِّ رسل وَنجدَةٍ

مُحَبّسَة في كُلِّ رسل وَنجدَةٍ

وَقَد عُرِفَت أَلوانُها في المَعاقِلِ

وَقَد عُرِفَت أَلوانُها في المَعاقِلِ

Kept in reserve through ease and hardship,

Confined on every march and raid,

their colors are well known in blood-money payments.

Their colors were known in the fortresses,

متابيعُ بَسطٌ متئماتٌ رَواجِعٌ

متابيعُ بَسطٌ متئماتٌ رَواجِعٌ

كَما رجّعَتْ في لَيلِها أُمُّ حائِلِ

كَما رجّعَتْ في لَيلِها أُمُّ حائِلِ

With calves following, unfettered, bearing twins, lowing repeatedly,

With outstretched forelegs, fully laden, turning back

as a she-calf’s mother lows through her night.

As Umm Hail turned back in her night.