أَتَت عُصبَةٌ لِلأَوسِ تَخطُرُ بِالقَنا

أَتَت عُصبَةٌ لِلأَوسِ تَخطُرُ بِالقَنا

كَمَشيِ الأُسودِ في رَشاشِ الأَهاضِبِ

كَمَشيِ الأُسودِ في رَشاشِ الأَهاضِبِ

A band of al-Aws came striding proudly with spears,

A band of warriors came to Aus, brandishing spears

Like lions walking amid the spray of heavy showers.

Like the gait of lions amid the downpour

فَإِن غِبتُ لَم أُغفِل وَإِن كُنتُ شاهِداً

فَإِن غِبتُ لَم أُغفِل وَإِن كُنتُ شاهِداً

تَجِدني شَديداً في الكَريهَةِ جانِبي

تَجِدني شَديداً في الكَريهَةِ جانِبي

So if I am absent, I neglect nothing; and if I am present,

Though absent, I did not neglect; and if present

You will find me firm of flank in battle,

You would find me fiercely steadfast

بِسَيفٍ كَأَنَّ الماءَ في صَفَحاتِهِ

بِسَيفٍ كَأَنَّ الماءَ في صَفَحاتِهِ

طَحاريرُ غَيمٍ أَو قُرونُ جَنادِبِ

طَحاريرُ غَيمٍ أَو قُرونُ جَنادِبِ

With a sword, as though the watery sheen on its faces were

With a sword as though the water in its blade

Wisps of cloud or the horns of grasshoppers.

Were rolls of clouds or horns of locusts