قلتُ لِعِيرِ جَرمٍ لا تُراعي

قلتُ لِعِيرِ جَرمٍ لا تُراعي

إِذا أَبطنتُ ذا البَدَنَ الصَّديعا

إِذا أَبطنتُ ذا البَدَنَ الصَّديعا

I said to Jarm’s caravan: do not be afraid;

I said to the fault of a guiltless crime, "Have no care

If I don this split coat of mail,

When I thrust with this worn, feeble body,

لَقَاظَ بجانبِ الشَّروَينِ منكم

لَقَاظَ بجانبِ الشَّروَينِ منكم

جماجمُ تُحسَبُ الرَّخَمَ الوُقُوعا

جماجمُ تُحسَبُ الرَّخَمَ الوُقُوعا

Beside al-Sharwayn would lie all summer, from among you,

For I will meet by the ponds of you all

Skulls mistaken for Egyptian vultures settled on the ground.

Heads that are counted as skulls fallen in ruins,

إِذا خفضوا الرِّماحَ لِيَعقِروهُ

إِذا خفضوا الرِّماحَ لِيَعقِروهُ

وَقَى بيديهِ يَركبُهُ قُبُوعا

وَقَى بيديهِ يَركبُهُ قُبُوعا

When they lower their spears to hamstring him,

When they lower their lances to hamstring him,

He wards them off with both hands, riding it with his head tucked low.

He will guard with his hands riding erect."