1. Behold! Every visionary sees that glory
Is but a cloak patched and tattered.

2. If you plant palms, our planting
Is stabbing and piercing in the breasts made keen.

3. If I am a visionary, still my emigration
Is Damascus; but the tale is agonizing.

4. An associate of a folk between whom and me
Are no family ties - just a call and fancies.

5. When the noble calls me by name I answer him
To a call wherein is nothing heavy for me.

6. For Oman's sake, the Muhalhil has a whim
Whenever the tribes boast, thereafter obedient.

7. And Bakr, you see, holds that prophethood
Was revealed to one hearing it as an embryo.

8. And Tamim said, "We see not that any one
Is like our Ahnaf till death comes to be."

9. So I blamed not Qais thereafter for Kutaiba
And pride in him; boasting is tricks.