1. O rider whom night hurls over a bridge
With a gleam from its tent and a cloak,

2. Springtime in the two valleys recognized it,
And firmness with twisting recognized it too.

3. It has a guide, an ear and an eye that sees,
When the eyes wink or roll.

4. It bears burdens sometimes loaded on it,
The paces of mounts walking only with it.

5. And convey to Imad al-Din, if you reach him,
That for me the weapon of blame is doubtful,

6. Do you think it wise to provoke the wolf pack
While your help is slow and dangers pressing?

7. You wanted to protect the man but the sandal was a scorpion,
Lying in wait while snakes are tangled.

8. Your father was the destructive tent pole,
Why then are you its pillar and rope?

9. Let it be poison to the enemies, falling,
While you are the poultice for the foes' wounds.

10. Beware of it, the first torrent of the flood,
And many a slight thing has returned grown strong.

11. A warning to you from a sudden Ghayghani leap,
After the stillness it has sudden movement.

12. And plant not the spear-fruit of al-Qatad, for you
Deserve to be speared by it and complain.

13. You were created biting the foe, striking,
And the blows upon you are no cause for doubt.

14. It was a shirt freed by an unbinding,
Where now are the ropes and knots?

15. The grudges almost destroy some of you
Though in its belly the magnanimous are destroyed.

16. How will it be when it casts aside the loincloths
And the biting bridle and the reins are gone?

17. There you will see opinion overturned and twisted,
Ropes in the hands of the angry pullers.

18. Blood sleeping in the sandals is awakened
And I think one day the killing will be long.

19. Is not his father one whose blows are on your skulls
For ages, a flail that does not stop?

20. It was a lance in Ibn Wasil's canal
Against you and your ancestors, ever striking.

21. So there stuck to it, between sword and spearhead,
The death-pledges of what have no release.

22. The riders crowded on it as if their fingers
Were fingers interlaced together.

23. And he hoped his troop might pasture in the preserve of kings
But with panic, a desolate, sterile panic.

24. No she-camel of his loved ones followed it
Except you, neither of the two herds.

25. He defies you when he is most abject
So what will he do if he returns empowered?

26. Hurl at it the mattocks, for it is an obstacle
To the paths of high endeavor and building.

27. Prudence is not for the people to tread the high ground
While the sandals of those who tread have thorns.

28. Were the pillar of the kingdom to face it like a phantom
It would cut it with curbing though being woven.

29. Would that we had that tail comforting us
When the unhealable disease is severe!

30. But the course of wisdom is removing its protective cover
Before matters that cannot be controlled.

31. If you put it out today, it is an ember
Tomorrow a blaze, and blazes destroy.