1. For the high-minded I have little virtue and avoidance,
And were it not for the high-minded, I would not seek love.

2. If God does not excuse you for what you intend,
Then people are but blamers or reproachers.

3. With my forbearance I gained a chance that I seized
From time, though fate's arms be stronger.

4. If my years reach what their length encompassed,
Then behind glory my heart is well-trained.

5. It suffices me that I am hated by enemies
And beloved unto the noblest goals.

6. Forbearance has its times and ignorance has the like,
But my times are closer to forbearance.

7. The ignorant assault me and I rise above,
And those who speak in me babble while I articulate.

8. They see my endurance as an annoyance, and it increases
The barking pangs in them that I do not rage.

9. I turn away from the cup of the companion as though it were
The fading of a passing cloud, dimmed of lightning.

10. And dignified, so tunes do not capture my resolve,
Nor does the blond one conspire against me when I drink.

11. I know not indecency but by its description,
And I speak not of disgrace while my heart is angry.

12. My nature is forbearing from the harm of carnivores,
As though the praiser through blame were erecting a monument.

13. My tongue a pebble that strikes ignorance with argument,
When the biter pounces at me from afar.

14. I am not pleased that the bounties that time gives and takes away
Touch my resolves.

15. Marvels of manners that my time endowed me in retaining them,
My time and the turning of fate, what an excellent tutor!

16. The days feather us then rouse us—
Behold, excellent is the first but miserable is the successor!

17. I warned you against the nature of villains, for I see
Stinginess comes while generosity is sought.

18. You know that generosity among people is cleverness
Passed down by the noble while nature overcomes.

19. Against you the swords and spears ally with me
And the intimate relationship that buds accompanies me.

20. I advised and some advice among people is madness,
And some whispering is with reproach and blame.

21. If you do not give advice its due right,
Then many a stubborn one is stopped by the reproacher.

22. God watered a land whose verdure adjoined its meadow,
When the clouds were pouring and the lowlands drinking.

23. I recalled through it the time of youth and regretfully
Wasted it, once passed what I was seeking.

24. I resided with you while the days were eggs as though
They rolled in our clothes scented with perfume.

25. And I like the breeze from you when it blows gently—
Behold, all that emanates from the heart is wondrous.

26. And in the familiar homeland there is a delight for the self
Even if we obtain no honor but roaming.

27. I glimpsed delicate lightning whose gowns
When the atmosphere ripped like extinguished candles.

28. It passed as the bundles of a picnic pass
Herded by the tips of spears and avoided.

29. We returned with it plunged with its abundant rain
As the hamlet greeted the ground—what billowing clouds!

30. As though the returning of frogs behind it
Were whistling attempted by the perforated bucket.

31. We turned with it the water of darkness pouring
And for the night a milky way with droplets.

32. It startles the fowl from their burrows
So however it meets them they are startled.

33. And it enjoys sipping the water gently as though
With glory a cool mouth with darkness drinking.

34. We surrendered to it the secret of concerns from our eyes
And the secret of glory between souls is veiled.

35. For glory my smiling in its proximity is prohibited
And not one tribulation in it shook me.

36. My suspicions in calamities are startled
And my determination avoids requests.

37. I traversed a pitch dark night, singing antiphony,
While the night prowlers howled.

38. If I wished, the doves would sing to me at dusk,
But I drink from the water of my eyes.

39. I say when the night conversations delve in the darkness,
Discussions that seem rising and setting.

40. Sing to me in talk for I have seen
The sweetest words are those that enchant.

41. Singing, when it probes the ears, is not
Trustworthy over its constantly moving robe.

42. And drowsiness from the wine of sleep I startled it
While the specter of concerns in the eye floats and settles.

43. It has an eyelid that conjures sleep upon it
To it as restfulness alighted upon a starry night.

44. I traversed the terrain’s paths heedlessly and deliberately—
You find with them the hands of steads playing.

45. It is not my desire to blame the companion, but
As boots and horseshoes meet in traveling.

46. I wondered how others accompanied its star
While my traveling in it, O girl of the people, is more wondrous.

47. I travel and my saddle is studded with stars,
I camp while my abode in the highlands is carpeted.

48. And the smooth flanks in its sides
Are cradles for the highland’s edges and playground.

49. It drags across the road’s surface jaggedly
Cast aside by a horn of the sun—broken!

50. A day with the radiance of swords shredded
And a sky with the redness of spears gilded.

51. You see the day red like blood
Poured upon the atmosphere dripping.

52. We clashed with the enemies and the night is spreading
Its corridors, the army tents most ruined.

53. We seized them with swords and spears
While the shepherd of the night stars wanders confused.

54. If it were a firm matter they would reason it
But it is the matter that is not tried.

55. They dread the dawn’s emergence while behind
The night’s veil a day guts twisting.

56. All heavy of chest from the clamor of spears
Is swift to passion while death hastens bringing.

57. He gathers when the war overwhelms his strength
As the deceivers gathered and the water runs out.

58. Horses are but like the flints of their hooves—
So either triumphant or disappointed plunder.

59. Leave the glory of ancestry O unjust people
For neither is the water to be had nor the earth good.

60. If you are among the descendants of Fihr like stars
When one star sets another rises.

61. My reputation among you is attributed openly
While not all stars are attributed!

62. You accompanied the youth of noble women, continuous
From the cutting of peers—no blood shedder!

63. I refine my thoughts praising villains
So I am truest in fair meanings and I lie.

64. Praise is but for the Prophet and his family—
It is intended while some words are better avoided.

65. Worthier of my praise is one whose pride honors me
And only the refined thank the beneficent.

66. I see poetry in them enduring as though
The long-necked birds hover with poems.

67. And they said “Wondrous! His wonder at himself!”
And where in eras is one like my father?

68. By your life, I was not wondrous but in praising them
And verses are thought to make me arrogant.

69. I ready for my pride in stance Muhammad
And I call upon Ali for the heights when I mount.