وَلَمْ أَصْطِبحْ صَهْباء صافِيَةَ القَذَى

وَلَمْ أَصْطِبحْ صَهْباء صافِيَةَ القَذَى

بِأَكْدَرَ مِنْ ماءِ اللَّهابَةِ والعَجْبِ

بِأَكْدَرَ مِنْ ماءِ اللَّهابَةِ والعَجْبِ

And I have drunk no morning draught of tawny wine, clear of dregs,

I did not walk at dawn a clear bright sky

more turbid than the water of al-Lahābah and al-ʿAjb.

Darker than muddy froth and wonderment

ولَمْ أَسْرِ في قَوْمٍ كِرَامٍ أَعِزَّةٍ

ولَمْ أَسْرِ في قَوْمٍ كِرَامٍ أَعِزَّةٍ

غَطَارِفَةٍ شُمِّ العَرَانِين مِنْ كَلْبِ

غَطَارِفَةٍ شُمِّ العَرَانِين مِنْ كَلْبِ

Nor have I travelled by night among a noble, mighty people,

Nor live with generous folk, strong, honoured men

highborn lords, lofty of nose, of Kalb.

Wild, sniffing the wind for a distant storm