لَيسَ لِوالِدَةٍ هَوءُهَا

لَيسَ لِوالِدَةٍ هَوءُهَا

وَلا قَولُها لاِبنِها دَعَدعِ

وَلا قَولُها لاِبنِها دَعَدعِ

A mother's longing is of no avail,

A mother's care cannot protect her son,

nor her saying to her son, "Steady, steady!"

Nor can her words to him, however wise.

تَطوفُ وَتَحذَرُ أَحوالَهُ

تَطوفُ وَتَحذَرُ أَحوالَهُ

وَغَيرُك أَملَكُ بِالمَصرَعِ

وَغَيرُك أَملَكُ بِالمَصرَعِ

She goes about, fearing what may befall him,

She watches over him and fears for him,

yet another, not you, has greater power over where one falls.

Yet another controls his fate and demise.

تُوَلوِلُ أَن غالَها دَهرُها

تُوَلوِلُ أَن غالَها دَهرُها

بِريبِ المَكارِهِ بِالأَروعِ

بِريبِ المَكارِهِ بِالأَروعِ

She wails that her fate has robbed her,

She frets as time treats him unkindly,

through calamity's vicissitudes, of the gallant one.

With constant blows of misfortune and woe.

وَكلُّ فتىً عاشَ في غِبطَةٍ

وَكلُّ فتىً عاشَ في غِبطَةٍ

يَصيرُ إِلى الجَدَثِ الأَسفَعِ

يَصيرُ إِلى الجَدَثِ الأَسفَعِ

And every youth who has lived in bliss

All who live in ease will eventually go

ends in the dusky grave.

To the narrow grave, six feet below.

فَأقسِمُ أَبرَحُ في غارَةٍ

فَأقسِمُ أَبرَحُ في غارَةٍ

مُغَزَّرةِ النَّفسِ بالمُكرِعِ

مُغَزَّرةِ النَّفسِ بالمُكرِعِ

So I swear I shall never cease raiding,

I swear I will raid in a night attack,

with lifeblood made abundant at the watering place [sense uncertain].

With my determined soul filled with ire,