1. Oh, how strange are the faces of the white houses
In which neither our horses neighed, nor the guide guided
١. يا عجباً من وشْكِ بَينٍ ما رَغَتْ
فيه مطايَانَا ولا الحادي حَدَا
2. We see the beautiful women accompanying us
Neglected, and the men scattered
٢. نرَى الجِمَالَ المصحِباتِ بينَنا
مُهمَّلاتٍ والرجالَ بَدَدَا
3. A position of farewell in which you see the eggs
As stars, and the one with streaming eyes has a black night
٣. مَوقفُ تَوديعٍ ترى البيضَ به
شُهباً وهَابي النّقعِ ليلاً أسودَا
4. And for the slanderers, spying eyes
That are boiling with anger and rage
٤. وللطِّعانِ في الكُماةِ أعيُناً
تَهمِي على السّردِ نجيعاً مُزبِدَا
5. What a position, whose guardian
Are the troops of enemies and the corrupt governor
٥. فيا له من مَوقِفٍ رقيبُه
كتَائِبُ الأعداءِ والواشي الرّدَى
6. If it were not my habit to dare
In similar situations, I would have perished there
٦. لو لم تكُن عادَتِيَ الإقدامَ في
أمثاله قضيتُ فيه كَمَدَا
7. Do not think little of the bits, my skin is tougher
The breeze does not melt the ice
٧. لا تَحسبَنَّ الرّزءَ أوهَى جَلَدِي
إنّ النّسِيم لا يَفُضُّ الجَلْمَدَا
8. And does adversity frighten the heart of the most frightening
When the vicissitudes of time have made it a lion?
٨. وهل يَروعُ الخطْبُ قلبَ أروعٍ
إن كَلِبَ الدَّهرُ عليهِ أَسِدَا
9. When the gloaters see me pleading
For a setback that makes me sweat blood
٩. متَى رآني الشّامتُون ضَرِعاً
لنكبةٍ تَعرُقُنِي عَرق المُدَى
10. They know I am tougher
Than the deaf rock, so nothing but what appeared
١٠. هُم يَعلمونَ أنّني أصلَبُ مِن
صُمِّ الصَّفَا فما عَدا مِمَّا بَدا
11. Did the situation humble me, except for my abundance that
Was permitted for bliss and pleasure?
١١. هل بِزّنِي الخطبُ سِوى وفْرِي الذي
كان مُباحاً للنَّوالِ والنَّدَى
12. If they gathered money, they took care, did my hands
Destroy what they contained, and the newborn?
١٢. إنْ جمَعوا المالَ فأوعَوْا أتلفَتْ
يَدي طريفَ ما حوتْ والتَّلِدَا
13. They see money as lasting provision
But the provision of the youth is to be praised
١٣. هُمُ يَروْن المالَ ذُخراً باقياً
وإنّما ذُخُر الفَتى أن يُحمَدَا