ما كانَ مِندِقُ اللِواءِ لِطَيرِهِ

ما كانَ مِندِقُ اللِواءِ لِطَيرِهِ

تَخشى وَلا سوءً يَكون معجَلا

تَخشى وَلا سوءً يَكون معجَلا

The standard’s breaking was not due to an omen

The banner did not shatter from an evil omen

To be feared, nor any evil soon to come.

To be feared, nor for a calamity drawing near;

لَكِن هَذا العودُ أَضعَف مَتنهُ

لَكِن هَذا العودُ أَضعَف مَتنهُ

صغَر الوَلايَةِ فَاِستَقَلَّ المَوصِلا

صغَر الوَلايَةِ فَاِستَقَلَّ المَوصِلا

Rather, this shaft’s back was weakened

But the spine of this staff was enfeebled by the

By the smallness of the governorship, so it deemed Mosul too small.

Pettiness of the realm, so it held Mosul in disdain.