1. Defenders of the homeland, a harmful affliction has befallen the homeland, and the crier has called for your aid.
It wanted you to protect it like the squadrons of locusts.

2. It wanted you to descend upon it like torrential rain in a barren year.
The dream of chaste girls has hovered around you, frightened like a flock of mountain goats.

3. The call of helpless women rouses those who contend against death.
Eyes looked to horses caparisoned, with saddles spread across the valleys.

4. They know the mill of turmoil - whether leaning or upright.
When the two feet are touched by fire, the two hands refrain from recoiling.

5. Every tried and tested warrior takes cover in the cloaks of ash.
He is inured to ruins, he does not care whether it is a wasteland or frequented valleys.

6. O bodies from which glory emanates, perfuming the mountains and valleys!
Fortuitous strikes have given you the choice libations, though not sought.

7. The most honoured of people died the most precious death, the best crop at the best harvest.
O you who draw near to death, separation from which is hard on them!

8. I saw generosity rewarded with praiseworthy gain.
And commerce where glory brings great profit to open-handed investors.

9. People fulfil what the generous grant, and circles propagate it.
But affliction has a touchstone by which to distinguish the miser from the open-handed.

10. There the ransomed one finds it hard to pay his deliverer.
The soul overflows, not knowing the reward, nor seeking it - until the Day of Reckoning.

11. Nor does its owner disdain - what he gave - to mankind.
A spirit from Saladin has awakened from the graves, disturbing the pillows.

12. It asks: Have eight revolving years brought a momentous event that has not happened before?
What has the new discourse added to the old? What subtleties has the eloquent cast on the bland?

13. What vengeance can the assassins exact? What reprisals can they obtain?
Were they too narrow-armed, though numerous, for a challenge I have undertaken alone?

14. I walked in its treatment calmly, and its consequences were good, though they proceeded hesitantly.
Yes! They and their enemies were equally helpless, while I was independent and opposed.

15. Transgressing - for what use is life if souls lack integrity?
Defenders of the homeland, my poetry allows naught for Palestine but words given back.

16. I wept for its tragedy weeping, and its ending overtook me in my fifties.
I sparked a flint for it from my tinder, and forged a flint from my heart.

17. I cast shadows on the rhymes - they clash on them from shuddering.
Other than a bitter heart do I have ought but a cup of aloes to melt it in?

18. Defenders of the homeland, I do not pretend, even if I say something new, I do not oppose.
Flattering the masses is not my way, neither is deceiving my nature and habit.

19. Defenders of the homeland, for twenty years since we were called, days of mustering have slipped by.
We were summoned by the Balfour Promise, then the second and third criers of the country reiterated.

20. Blood in the breasts of every valley called us in mourning tongues.
Surges of severe distress ebb and flow.

21. So we sought refuge in hearts we had forged from obstinate steel.
And we sought refuge in a leader wrapping his sword, baring his blade.

22. Who sheds tears fraudulently then revels in bereavement.
Who wallows when he walks proudly in grief.

23. And we mounted steadfastness to Palestine until the day of gain.
For Palestine they held an auction, exhausting the proceeds.

24. We promised it regained glory and recovered honour.
With a declaration - and its author has repudiated it!

25. And a declaration whose implementation remains unfulfilled.
And a conference convened hastily by those who organised it.

26. And a conference whose opening is still to be announced!
Defenders of the homeland, disasters are no mystery, nor is a thing shrouded in eloquence.

27. No frustration leaves one perplexed about a sixth of realities.
But just as minds were enlightened and a present and an absent were illuminated,

28. Palestine did not vanish by magic, nor was extinction inscribed without ink.
The edifice did not collapse without deviation, nor have the Jews built without foundation.

29. Nor could Palestine remain while her neighbour agitates against her with lies.
Her six directions have seized her with hunger, ignorance and persecution.

30. Peoples that enslave, leaving no trace for her, not even the fetters of captivity!
Endowments and virtues are withheld from her, while beliefs and principles are restricted.

31. And every now and then a Hajjaj appears who falsifies, or a Ziyad.
So fear of them melts in every fearful one, and oppression makes every nomad silent.

32. The countries are looted, and from among their sons the looters return to their support.
Greed emerges barefaced, threatening with contempt all it meets.

33. Prisons clang shut on suspicions, conjectures and interpretations.
Defenders of the homeland, no field of battle is more violent than the battlefields of belief!

34. The like of you, souls are bodies that endure death through the tribulation of struggle.
Morals that narrow with the lure of hardships - stern in their hostility to enemies.

35. That almost topple resolutions, were it not for the manliness of those able to resist.
The manliness of fasters - though if they wished they could be those who feast on any provision.

36. And a battle in which the truth remains making peace, or deals, or fights.
And an arena where those descending have nothing but enduring patience from tools.

37. There were shaken lines on the surface that Risalat al-Ghawī traced to the depths of burrow and continuity.
They had broken free of the collar, though they were but a year old in the cradle!

38. Defenders of the homeland, were it not for the venom of a slanderer who diluted his poisonous drink through excessive guzzling,
Deceit in the pure honey, say what you will of the hostile hypocrite!

39. A garment on trickery and betrayal, the clothes of those posing as neutral.
Guile that does not show you when it will visit so you feel safe from its secret, and when it will turn hostile.

40. It looks out stealthily when stealthily looking out in comfort.
It thunders when thunderous in stagnation.

41. And were it not for those who opposed its caprices, intoxicated with love and affection -
They forgot - all but their souls - crazed with passion wherever passion has dwelt in every valley.

42. Their passion played them false, so they played false with Palestine on the thorns of wretchedness.
And led her to it as a redemption lamb, like those fleeing from confrontation.

43. You would have been the cure for her affliction, and with you she would have been guided by the best guide.
Defenders of the homeland, the nights do not cease to be turbulent with a wind that blows away the passer-by.

44. Nor does a stray after another stray fail to stumble, not enlightened by the guidance of guide!
Nor does misguidance cease while fallen, claiming to be the exemplar of propriety.

45. Defenders of the homeland, every unjust course, though lengthy, leads to ending.
Every assembly leads to dispersal, every dispersal leads to gathering.

46. So patience - an obscure night will be unveiled, whiteness will emerge from blackness.
Souls will become free of hiding places, and he who intends to will articulate his purpose.

47. The peoples will surge toward a clear, reliable and sound guide.
And a spark heralds extinction - will it end up kindling or not?

48. And whatever the outcome, you are not responsible for an unseen destiny.