1. Everlasting are the castles though assailants strike
So the tails of the coats of mail and the piercing blades.

2. And the living may be seen in them wrapped in winding sheets
And for resolve at the tryst are diversions.

3. Time may favour or augment thee
One day with him whose intimacy thou seekest.

4. And the writhing of the curvature of resolve hurls
At a land whose darkness enshrouds it, chargers.

5. By the suggestions implanted in its environs, whisperers;
And by the shaking of the jinn in it, pipers.

6. Its splendour and the many flocks I tend
Lead to a barren land which sates all quenchers of thirst,

7. A remedy for him who mounts his ragged old camel,
As if letting a crooked rope trail behind.

8. I will praise the unique, the peerless, the singular
With novelties that have subtleties.

9. It has a journey and halting-places,
Founded by an artificer who has built for it boxwood huts,

10. A caliph whose forefathers were themselves caliphs.
When the ancients are counted, he is the plodder.

11. The glory of the ancients and the abundant successor,
And a sublime dynasty and a sublimer yet.

12. In lofty eyries that multiply
Beyond those that fall short and are deficient.

13. And from the House of Marwan a noble branch
Firm of root when foundations shake.

14. Neither has the day driven away the night that enfolds
And the love of your maternal uncles is a sheltering cave

15. When the squanderer injures the treasure vaults -
Days of respites that succeed each other.

16. It embraced you until the fears are allayed,
And for al-Walid are equity and vying in glory,

17. With burdens that mountains find heavy,
Which the tall sailing ships cannot carry

18. Nor the glorious regiments of chargers.
When the zealots importune,

19. Your palm's favours are a copious spring,
Generosity, when the dissenters are niggardly,

20. A downpour when the winds blow wild.
It pours into your sea a cleaving sea,

21. An ebb bore away by your sea when it swells high,
A current whose drawn water is turbid,

22. Some taken and some left dry.
O son of the two Yazids, the most glorious Yazid,

23. Free of all fault, the perfect and complete.
With the two Iraqs, for whoever contends,

24. Baring fangs that rend and tear.
Joseph in the plenty and lean years contained

25. Is equitable to the virtuous and gentle to those who do good,
But to him who is stubborn, deadly poison.

26. In him, when rapines are sought, are
Subjugation, oppression, and overbearing pride.

27. And he counters if they counter,
Hardening until the ulcers are healed

28. Of diseases, and the craving heart is sated.