أَبا مَطَرٍ وَجَذمُكَ مِن مَعَدٍّ

أَبا مَطَرٍ وَجَذمُكَ مِن مَعَدٍّ

كَذاتِ العُرِّ في السَرحِ السَليمِ

كَذاتِ العُرِّ في السَرحِ السَليمِ

O Abu Matar, your stock from Maʿadd

O father of rain, your body is from Ma'add,

is like a mangy she-camel amid a healthy grazing herd.

Like the smooth hair of a young she-camel in open country.

سُراةُ أَديمِ هَذا الحَيِّ فِهرٌ

سُراةُ أَديمِ هَذا الحَيِّ فِهرٌ

وَبَعضُ القَومِ زِعنِفَةُ الأَديمِ

وَبَعضُ القَومِ زِعنِفَةُ الأَديمِ

Fihr is the choicest part of this clan’s hide,

The companions of this long-lasting life are evanescent,

and some of the folk are the hide’s ragged fringe.

While some people are like worn out leather.

قَناةٌ نَحنُ أَملَسُها وَأَنتُم

قَناةٌ نَحنُ أَملَسُها وَأَنتُم

مَكانُ العابِ مِنها وَالوُصومِ

مَكانُ العابِ مِنها وَالوُصومِ

A spear-shaft: we are its smooth part, and you

We are a channel, smooth for you,

are the site of its flaws and cracks.

A place for you to play and fast in.

وَما وَضَعَتكَ حاضِنَةٌ وَلَكِن

وَما وَضَعَتكَ حاضِنَةٌ وَلَكِن

تَمَطَّقَ فوكَ مِن لَبَنٍ لَئيمِ

تَمَطَّقَ فوكَ مِن لَبَنٍ لَئيمِ

It was no nurse who brought you low, but

No wet nurse placed you, but rather

your mouth smacked with ignoble milk.

Your mouth sucked from despicable milk.

إِذا المِنتاجُ لَم يَنجُب فَتاها

إِذا المِنتاجُ لَم يَنجُب فَتاها

فَلَيسَ الفَضلُ إِلّا لِلعَقيمِ

فَلَيسَ الفَضلُ إِلّا لِلعَقيمِ

If a prolific mother’s son fails to prove noble,

When the stallion fails to sire his colts,

then merit belongs only to the barren woman.

There is no virtue except in the barren.