1. He says, though the nights were his foes
And the stars rose against him, demanding,
١. يَقولُ وَلَو أَنَّ اللَيالي خُصومُهُ
وَيَمضي وَلَو أَنَّ النُجومَ مَطالِبُهْ
2. The faithful still praised him in prayer,
Yet only his enemies bent their backs to him.
٢. مَحارِيبُهُ تُثني عَلى صَلَواتِهِ
وَلَكِن عَلى الأَعقابِ يَثني مُحارِبُه
3. Ships lie at anchor in the ocean of tumult
Set them racing, they are ships under his command.
٣. جَنائِبُ في بَحرِ العَجاجِ سَفائِنٌ
فَإِن حُرِّكَت لِلرَكضِ فَهيَ جَنائِبُه
4. His banners have stirred and risen as though
They were fingers counting the lifetime of the foe.
٤. وَقَد خَفَقَت راياتُهُ فَكَأَنَّها
أَنامِلُ في عُمرِ العَدُوِّ تُحاسِبُه