أَبا دُلَيجَةَ مَن لِحَيٍّ مُفرَدٍ

أَبا دُلَيجَةَ مَن لِحَيٍّ مُفرَدٍ

صَقِعٍ مِنَ الأَعداءِ في شَوّالِ

صَقِعٍ مِنَ الأَعداءِ في شَوّالِ

O Abu Dulayjah, who will help a solitary clan,

O Abaa Duleijah, protector of the solitary bearded one,

far from its enemies in Shawwal?

In Shawaal against an open plain of enemies.

وَإِذا ذَكَرتُ أَبا دُلَيجَةَ أَسبَلَت

وَإِذا ذَكَرتُ أَبا دُلَيجَةَ أَسبَلَت

عَيني فَبَلَّ وَكيفُها سِربالي

عَيني فَبَلَّ وَكيفُها سِربالي

And when I remember Abu Dulayjah, tears flow

And when I mention Abaa Duleijah, my eyes pour down

from my eye, their streaming drenching my tunic.

Tears, drenching my garment.

وَمُعَصَّبينَ عَلى نَواجٍ سُدتَهُم

وَمُعَصَّبينَ عَلى نَواجٍ سُدتَهُم

مِثلُ القِسِيِّ ضَوامِرٍ بِرِحالِ

مِثلُ القِسِيِّ ضَوامِرٍ بِرِحالِ

And turbaned men on swift she-camels—you led them—

Attired on she-camels, their tents like castles,

bowlike and lean, bearing saddles.

With saddles and traveling gear.

وَقَوارِصٍ بَينَ العَشيرَةِ تُتَّقى

وَقَوارِصٍ بَينَ العَشيرَةِ تُتَّقى

داوَيتُها وَسَمَلتَها بِسِمالِ

داوَيتُها وَسَمَلتَها بِسِمالِ

And stinging words within the clan, which people guard against,

And milch-camels among the clan, well-fed,

I treated them, and you cleansed them with a remedy.

I drove and herded them with my staff.

لا زالَ رَيحانٌ وَفَغوٌ ناضِرٌ

لا زالَ رَيحانٌ وَفَغوٌ ناضِرٌ

يَجري عَلَيكَ بِمُسبِلٍ هَطّالِ

يَجري عَلَيكَ بِمُسبِلٍ هَطّالِ

May fragrant herbs and fresh henna blossoms never cease

Still fresh and lush greenery flows to you

to flow over you with a streaming, pouring raincloud.

In an outpouring torrent, long and flooding.

فَلَنِعمَ رِفدُ الحَيِّ يَنتَظِرونَهُ

فَلَنِعمَ رِفدُ الحَيِّ يَنتَظِرونَهُ

وَلَنِعمَ حَشوُ الدِرعِ وَالسِربالِ

وَلَنِعمَ حَشوُ الدِرعِ وَالسِربالِ

Truly, splendid is the support the clan awaits,

Excellent indeed is the supply for the living, awaiting it,

and splendid the body filling mail and tunic!

And excellent the stuffing of the coats and robes.

وَلَنِعمَ مَأوى المُستَضيفِ إِذا دَعا

وَلَنِعمَ مَأوى المُستَضيفِ إِذا دَعا

وَالخَيلُ خارِجَةٌ مِنَ القَسطالِ

وَالخَيلُ خارِجَةٌ مِنَ القَسطالِ

And splendid the refuge for one seeking hospitality when he calls,

And excellent the shelter for the guest when he calls,

while horses emerge from the battle-dust.

And the horses charging out from the stables.

وَلَقَد أَبيتُ بِلَيلَةٍ كَلَيالي

وَلَقَد أَبيتُ بِلَيلَةٍ كَلَيالي

لَقَحَت بِهِ لَحياً خِلافَ حِيالِ

لَقَحَت بِهِ لَحياً خِلافَ حِيالِ

And indeed I pass a night like nights

And indeed I have spent nights, like all other nights,

that grew pregnant with him—curse them!—unlike barren ones.

When my beard mingled with hers, contrary to custom.