1. ليَ قلبٌ من جَلمَدِ الصّخرِ أقسى

    وهو من رِقّةِ النّسيمِ أرَقُّ

    I have a heart harder than solid rock,

    Yet softer than the softness of the breeze.

  2. كهَصورٍ في كفّه الظُّفْرُ عَضْبٌ

    وغريرٍ في صدره النهدُ حقُّ

    Like a lion whose claw, within its paw, is a keen blade,

    And a guileless youth whose breast upon his chest is a round casket.

  3. عزْمتي كوكبٌ وطَرْفِيَ ريحٌ

    وأضاتي غيمٌ وسيفيَ برْقُ

    My resolve is a star, and my gaze is wind,

    And my pool is a cloud, and my sword is lightning.

  4. ضرْبَتي في مفارِقِ الذِّمْرِ جَيْبٌ

    بين كفّيّ عند غيظٍ يُشَقُّ

    My blow in the crowns of the brave is a garment's opening,

    Torn between my two hands in anger.

  5. حشوُها من فُلولِ عَضْبي شَظَايا

    كَنُيوبٍ عَنْهُنَّ قَلّصَ شِدْقُ

    It is filled with splinters from my keen blade's chipped edge,

    Like fangs from which a mouth's corner has drawn back.