تَوَعَّدَني أَبو خَلَفٍ

تَوَعَّدَني أَبو خَلَفٍ

وَعَن أَوتارِهِ ناما

وَعَن أَوتارِهِ ناما

Abu Khalaf threatened me,

Abu Khalaf threatened me,

yet slept, neglecting his claims for vengeance,

while plucking his lute strings gently,

بِسَيفٍ لِأَبي صُفرَ

بِسَيفٍ لِأَبي صُفرَ

ةَ لا يَقطَعُ إِبهاما

ةَ لا يَقطَعُ إِبهاما

with a sword belonging to Abu Sufr—

with the sword of Abu Sufara

—a, which cannot cut a thumb,

that slices not even a thumb.

كَأَنَّ الوَرسَ يَعلُوهُ

كَأَنَّ الوَرسَ يَعلُوهُ

إِذا ما صَدرُهُ قاما

إِذا ما صَدرُهُ قاما

as though yellow wars dye covered it

As though the pommel were higher than him

whenever its forepart rose upright.

when he stood up straight!