وَجَدنا أَبا الجَبّارِ ضَبّاً مُوَرَّشاً

وَجَدنا أَبا الجَبّارِ ضَبّاً مُوَرَّشاً

لَهُ في الصَفاةِ بُرثُنٌ وَمَعاوِلُ

لَهُ في الصَفاةِ بُرثُنٌ وَمَعاوِلُ

We found Abu al-Jabbar a provoked spiny-tailed lizard,

We found Abu Al-Jabbar armed to the teeth,

With a clawed paw and pickaxes in the solid rock.

With hoes and pickaxes on Saffah's hill.

لَهُ كُديَةٌ أَعيَت عَلى كُلِّ قابِضٍ

لَهُ كُديَةٌ أَعيَت عَلى كُلِّ قابِضٍ

وَلَو كانَ مِنهُم حارِشانِ وَحابِلُ

وَلَو كانَ مِنهُم حارِشانِ وَحابِلُ

He has a patch of stony ground that has thwarted every would-be captor,

He has a bow that has wearied every puller,

Even if among them were two lizard-hunters and a trapper.

Even if they were Harith and Habal.

ظَلِلتُ أُراعي الشَمسَ لَولا مَلالَتي

ظَلِلتُ أُراعي الشَمسَ لَولا مَلالَتي

تَزَلَّعَ جِلدي عِندَهُ وَهوَ قائِلُ

تَزَلَّعَ جِلدي عِندَهُ وَهوَ قائِلُ

I spent the day watching the sun; but for my weariness,

I would challenge the sun but for my weariness,

My skin would have cracked beside him while he took his midday rest.

My skin chafed as he spoke.