Sol 6.1

  1. وكنتُ أظُنُّ في أثوابِ نَصْرٍ

    فتىً فَرْداً يُحامي أو يَجودُ

    And I used to think that within Nasr's robes

    was a single youth, fighting in defense or giving generously.

  2. فلو لا أنْ بلوْتُ خِلالَ نَصْرٍ

    وتجْرِبتي على الدَّعْوى شُهودُ

    Had I not tested Nasr's qualities—

    and my experience bears witness to the claim—

  3. بصُرتُ بأيْهَميْ سَيْلٍ وخيلٍ

    اذا طَرقَ الكَتائبُ والوفودُ

    I would have beheld two irresistible forces—a torrent and horses—

    whenever battalions and delegations came by night.

  4. يُسيلُهما مِن الجاوانِ خِرْقٌ

    لَبيقُ العِطْفِ مَسْعاهُ حميدُ

    A generous nobleman of al-Jawan sets them both flowing,

    graceful in bearing, praiseworthy in his endeavors,

  5. رشيدٌ في الطِّعانِ اذا العَوالي

    مِن العُرَواءِ ضَلَّ بها الزُّنودُ

    unerring in spear-fighting when, with the tall lances,

    forearms lose their way from trembling.

  6. يموتُ الفارسُ المِقْدامُ منهُ

    وتأمَنهُ الغَنائمُ والطَّريدُ

    The intrepid horseman dies at his hands,

    yet the spoils and the fugitive are safe from him.

  7. ويصدقُ وعْدهُ في مُعْتَفيهِ

    اذا كَذَبَ البَوارقُ والرُّعودُ

    He keeps his promise to those seeking his bounty,

    when lightning flashes and thunderclaps prove false.

  8. ومَنْ بَطَلٌ كعزِّ الدين ثَبْتٌ

    اذا ضَعُفَ المَذاكي والحَديدُ

    And what hero is as steadfast as Izz al-Din

    when full-grown steeds and iron grow weak?

  9. هو الرِّئْبالُ منْ تحتِ العَوالي

    ويومَ السَّلْمِ بَسَّامٌ وَدودُ

    He is the lion beneath the tall lances,

    and in peacetime, ever-smiling and affectionate.

  10. طلَبْتَ تَغزُّلي وأبَيْتُ اِلاَّ

    ثَناءكَ اِنني صَبٌّ عَميدُ

    You asked for my love verse, but I would offer only

    your praise: I am lovesick, wounded to the heart.

  11. وغادرتُ الهنودَ لِهِنْداونٍ

    منازلُهُ الحُوَيْزَةُ لا الغُمودُ

    And I forsook the women named Hind for an Indian blade,

    whose quarters are in al-Huwayza, not in scabbards.