أَلا وَدَّعتَ جيرانَها أَم أُسودا

أَلا وَدَّعتَ جيرانَها أَم أُسودا

وَضَنَّت عَلى ذي حاجَةٍ أَن يَزودا

وَضَنَّت عَلى ذي حاجَةٍ أَن يَزودا

Ah, Umm Aswad bade her neighbors farewell,

Alas, she bid her neighbors farewell, the dark cliffs,

and grudged a needy man his provisions.

And was miserly to one in need, never offering provisions.

وَأَبغَض أَخلاق النِساءِ أَشَدَّهُ

وَأَبغَض أَخلاق النِساءِ أَشَدَّهُ

إِلَيَّ فَلا تولن أَهلي تَشَدُّدا

إِلَيَّ فَلا تولن أَهلي تَشَدُّدا

The harshest of women's ways is the most hateful

Of women's traits I most despise in her utmost severity,

to me; so do not treat my household harshly.

So turn not, my tribe, to sternness and rigidity.

وَسائِل بَني نَبهانَ عَنّا وَعِندَهُم

وَسائِل بَني نَبهانَ عَنّا وَعِندَهُم

بَلاءٌ كَحَدِّ السَيفِ إِذ قَطَعَ اليَدا

بَلاءٌ كَحَدِّ السَيفِ إِذ قَطَعَ اليَدا

Ask the sons of Nabhan about us; they have

Ask the Bani Nabhan about us, and with them

proof of our mettle, like the sword's edge when it severed the hand.

Is an affliction like the cut of a blade that severs the hand.

دَعوا مالِكاً ثُمَّ اِتصَلنا بِمالِكٍ

دَعوا مالِكاً ثُمَّ اِتصَلنا بِمالِكٍ

فَكانَ ذَكا مِصباحِهِ فَتَوَقَّدا

فَكانَ ذَكا مِصباحِهِ فَتَوَقَّدا

They called on Malik; then we rallied to Malik,

They left Malik, then we joined with Malik,

and his lamp's flame rose and blazed.

And his light, like a lamp, shone bright.

وَبَشر بنُ عَمرٍو قَد تَرَكَنا مُجَندلاً

وَبَشر بنُ عَمرٍو قَد تَرَكَنا مُجَندلاً

يَنوءُ بِخطارٍ هُناكَ وَمَعبَدا

يَنوءُ بِخطارٍ هُناكَ وَمَعبَدا

And Bishr, son of Amr, we left sprawled on the ground,

And Bashir son of 'Amr left us Mujannadal

struggling beneath a swaying spear there—and Ma'bad too.

Swaying with worry there and Ma'bad.

تَمَطَّت بِهِ قَوداءُ ذاتَ عُلالَةٍ

تَمَطَّت بِهِ قَوداءُ ذاتَ عُلالَةٍ

إِذا الصلدَمُ الخِنذيذ أَعيا وَبَلَّدا

إِذا الصلدَمُ الخِنذيذ أَعيا وَبَلَّدا

A long-necked mare stretched out beneath him, with strength in reserve,

The she-mule of 'Ulalah hobbled with him

when the sturdy, powerful steed grew weary and sluggish.

When the jingling bridle-leather whimpered and palled.

لَقيناهُم نَستَنقِذُ الخَيلَ كَالقَنا

لَقيناهُم نَستَنقِذُ الخَيلَ كَالقَنا

وَيَستَسلِبونَ السَمهَرِيِّ المُقَصَّدا

وَيَستَسلِبونَ السَمهَرِيِّ المُقَصَّدا

We met them, wresting free horses like spear-shafts,

We met them to rescue the horses like ostriches

while they seized the splintered Samhari spears.

As they plundered the coveted Samharite.

فَيا رُبّ قدرٍ قَد كَفَأنا وَجَفنَةً

فَيا رُبّ قدرٍ قَد كَفَأنا وَجَفنَةً

بِذي الرَمثِ إِذ يَدعونَ مَثنى وَموحِدا

بِذي الرَمثِ إِذ يَدعونَ مَثنى وَموحِدا

Ah, many a cooking pot we overturned, and a great bowl,

So oh Lord of Fate, we clashed with Jafnah

at Dhu al-Ramth, as they called out in pairs and singly.

At Thi Al-Ramth when they called for pairs and One.

عَلى أَنَّني أَثوي سِناني صَعدَتي

عَلى أَنَّني أَثوي سِناني صَعدَتي

بِساقِين زيداً أَن يَبوءَ وَمَعبَدا

بِساقِين زيداً أَن يَبوءَ وَمَعبَدا

Yet with the two points of my lance I lay low

Yet I will store my spear, Sa'dah,

Zayd at Saqin, in requital, and Ma'bad.

With legs swift as Zayd's, lest Ma'bad be laid waste.