ياO وَقعَWaqʿ هَلّاwhy did you not سَأَلتِyou asked القَومَthe people ماwhat حَسَبيmy honor
يا وَقعَ هَلّا سَأَلتِ القَومَ ما حَسَبي
إِذاwhen تَلاقَتmeet عُرىloops ضَفرٍbraided straps وَأَحقابِand saddle girths
إِذا تَلاقَت عُرى ضَفرٍ وَأَحقابِ
O Waqʿ, why did you not ask the people what my honor is,
O woe, would you not ask the people what is my worth
when the loops of braided straps and saddle girths meet?
When the ties of kinship and brotherhood gather
إِنّيindeed I أَناI myself الزادُthe provisions إِذwhen لاno زادَprovisions يَحمِلُهُcarries it
إِنّي أَنا الزادُ إِذ لا زادَ يَحمِلُهُ
رِكابُهُمtheir riding camels غَيرَexcept أَنقاءٍmarrow وَأَصلابِand backbones
رِكابُهُم غَيرَ أَنقاءٍ وَأَصلابِ
Indeed, I myself am the provisions when no provisions are carried
I am the provision when their mounts bear
by their riding camels, save marrow and backbones.
No provision but elegant, hardy frames