1. لَقَد تَعلَمُ الخَيلُ المُغيرَةُ أَنَّنا

    إِذا اِبتَدَرَ الناسُ الفَعالَ أُسودُها

    Surely the raiding horses know that we,

    when men race to noble deeds, are their lions.

  2. عَلى رَبِذٍ يَزدادُ جوداً إِذا جَرى

    وَقَد قَلِقَت تَحتَ السُروجِ لُبودُها

    On a nimble steed that grows swifter as it runs,

    and their felt pads have shifted beneath the saddles.

  3. وَقَد خُضِبَت بِالماءِ حَتّى كَأَنَّما

    تَشَبَّهُ كُمتَ الخَيلِ مِنهُنَّ سودُها

    And they have been stained with water, until it seems

    the black ones among them resemble the dark-bay horses.

  4. وَنَحنُ نَفَينا مَذحِجاً عَن بِلادِها

    تُقَتَّلُ حَتّى عادَ فَلّاً شَديدُها

    And we drove Madhhij from its lands,

    slaughtered until its mighty force became a routed remnant.

  5. فَأَمّا فَريقٌ بِالمَصامَةِ مِنهُمُ

    فَفَرّوا وَأُخرى قَد أُبيرَت جُدودُها

    As for one band of them at al-Masamah,

    they fled, while another band's fortunes were destroyed.

  6. إِذا سَنَةٌ عَزَّت وَطالَ طِوالُها

    وَأَقحَطَ عَنها القَطرُ وَاِصفَرَّ عودُها

    When a drought year grows harsh and its long spells drag on,

    and rain fails it and its stalks turn yellow,

  7. وُجِدنا كِراماً لا يُحَوَّلُ ضَيفُنا

    إِذا جَفَّ فَوقَ المَنزِلاتِ جَليدُها

    we are found generous; our guest is not sent elsewhere,

    when its frost hardens over the encampments.

  8. وَقَد أَصبَحَت عِرسي الغَداةَ تَلومُني

    عَلى غَيرِ ذَنبٍ هَجرُها وَصُدودُها

    And this morning my wife began reproaching me;

    her estrangement and aversion are for no fault of mine.

  9. فَإِنّي إِذا ما قُلتُ قَولِيَ فَاِنقَضى

    أَتَتني بِأُخرى خُطَّةٌ لا أُريدُها

    For whenever I say my piece and it is done,

    she brings me another matter that I do not want.

  10. فَلا خَيرَ في وِدٍّ إِذا رَثَّ حَبلُهُ

    وَخَيرُ حِبالِ الواصِلينَ جَديدُها

    So there is no good in affection when its cord is frayed,

    and the best cords of those who keep ties are the new ones.