1. When the time of happiness left me
Then slay me if you wish, and do not reprove me

2. I ignored my advice when my body became infirm
And how much rancour did the hidden grudge pour

3. Certainty has vanished in an era
We got from its obscurity mere guesses

4. So we said to the unsure “Are you a lion?”
He doubted and said “Upon me or as if I were”

5. I placed my belongings on the eve of days
I am not staying with tranquility

6. Neither is my sheath on the bent stick
Nor my saddle on the submissive horse

7. But time ticks under me
Free from lingering and slowing down

8. I yearn but I do not moan except with a love
Without truth, of yearning and madness

9. Your advice carried away my she-camel and myself
And we roam in longing so do not groan

10. Poverty hosted your guest permanently
So do you have any hospitality in your abodes

11. Wealth, arrogance, satiety, and poverty
Thus we spent life with every art

12. A time when its children do not get any good
Unless they seek it with wishes

13. I knew its turmoils so I withdrew
With the experience of an elderly man

14. And it made me need one who is unlike me
As the two front teeth need the canine

15. I am the son of soil, I have no lineage but it
I seldom state my lineage or nickname

16. When oblivion inspires me one day
Then avoiding and shrinking are secured

17. The people of pretension and embellishment
Are not for the people of sweetness and melody

18. And being content with what is near is enough for you
Of great feats not reached by gradualness

19. The hissing of spears in sturdy coat of mail
And the impact of the brave man’s sword on the skull

20. The attack of the valiant Muhannad seizing camels
And the boiling not with feeble neighing

21. Nor the neighing of Anat’s weary ponies
But the steeds of a dreadful army

22. He sees the landmarks of ruins that are not allowed
And makes the zealot’s forehead sweat

23. He does not cease bearing midges
While the warbler refused singing in the greens

24. His caution melts the enemies’ throats
And his generosity makes the stingy man melt

25. He blows poison in the snakes' mouths
And fills the haughty one’s nose with humiliation

26. Tearing through mirage that was clad with illusion
He strips the wolf of its fluffy fur

27. The she-grouses complained about the cold nights
So the north wind made them wider with cotton

28. And their jinn plays while the night is dark
When the owlets stop singing

29. The cattle freely graze the land of Bani Uqaysh
Delicately chewing in its pastures in old age

30. I see when you are alone you suffice evil
From the sour company and purpose

31. Whoever bears people’s rights finds
With causes like a trained stallion

32. I wonder are earth’s kings enslaved
To the soul’s cravings without any gratitude

33. If I deemed them wrong, it would not be injustice
And favour without any grace

34. I warned you from mingling with people so beware
Your lowly relatives and beware of me

35. And if I said do not carry refuse
Then beat the wrongdoing brother and hit me

36. The polishing of swords while the bastard attacks
A drowning man above a sword being sharpened

37. Its brightness removes the cheeks’ vegetation
And spreads from the bosom of the frowning one

38. So its hands did not bear any sorrows
Nor its tones the tones of complaining

39. The tranquil life is excellent so do not say
One whose repute is buried is like a dead filthy man

40. And my soul prefers the state of my peer
And I disdain the traits of the overdressed man

41. The people’s departure from me is enough of sadness
It was not my choice, the abode of the constructed

42. They pitched their tent upon rubble
And I lacked a place for pitching

43. My heart greets hopelessness with tranquility
And the tenderness of the crevice has changed in me

44. I am not one to cry for no calamities
I discipline with that one who did not help me

45. I reckoned if Thabit were weighed with you
And pleasure in virtues he would not outweigh you

46. I do not want your equal for a favour
As for evil, then do not come near me

47. Do not reciprocate good with evil
And if I betrayed you in a matter then betray me

48. My friend, I did not desire nearness to you
And I protected you from my company so protect me

49. I see the best of people are evildoers
And if the son of Haditha is disgraced he disgraces me

50. When their young nobleman gets killed
Love does not get stirred like the ringing of coins

51. I saw the sons of Nadheer from Moses’ family
Misfortune lent them the debris of palms

52. They toiled and their predecessors strove for a matter
But they did not gain save consistent fatigue