أَرى النَفسَ لَجَّت في رَجاءٍ مُكَذِّبِ

أَرى النَفسَ لَجَّت في رَجاءٍ مُكَذِّبِ

وَقَد جَرَّبَت لَو تَقتَدي بِالمُجَرَّبِ

وَقَد جَرَّبَت لَو تَقتَدي بِالمُجَرَّبِ

I see the soul stubbornly clinging to a deceptive hope,

I see the soul yearning in denied hope,

though it has known experience—if only it followed the experienced.

Though it has tried following the ways of experience,

وَكائِن رَأَيتُ مِن مُلوكٍ وَسوقَةٍ

وَكائِن رَأَيتُ مِن مُلوكٍ وَسوقَةٍ

وَصاحَبتُ مِن وَفدٍ كِرامٍ وَمَوكِبِ

وَصاحَبتُ مِن وَفدٍ كِرامٍ وَمَوكِبِ

How many kings and commoners I have seen,

And I've seen kings and leaders,

and accompanied noble delegations and entourages.

And met honorable delegates and processions,

وَسانَيتُ مِن ذي بَهجَةٍ وَرَقَيتُهُ

وَسانَيتُ مِن ذي بَهجَةٍ وَرَقَيتُهُ

عَلَيهِ السُموطُ عابِسٍ مُتَغَضِّبِ

عَلَيهِ السُموطُ عابِسٍ مُتَغَضِّبِ

I have humored many a man of splendor and soothed him,

And I've socialized with the joyful, conversing with him,

necklaces upon him, scowling and angry.

While grim clouds gathered over us,

وَفارَقتُهُ وَالوُدُّ بَيني وَبَينَهُ

وَفارَقتُهُ وَالوُدُّ بَيني وَبَينَهُ

بِحُسنِ الثَناءِ مِن وَراءِ المُغَيَّبِ

بِحُسنِ الثَناءِ مِن وَراءِ المُغَيَّبِ

And I parted from him with affection between him and me,

And we parted while good praise still echoed between us,

through gracious praise spoken in his absence.

With kindness from behind the unseen veil,

وَأَبَّنتُ مِن فَقدِ اِبنِ عَمٍّ وَخُلَّةٍ

وَأَبَّنتُ مِن فَقدِ اِبنِ عَمٍّ وَخُلَّةٍ

وَفارَقتُ مِن عَمٍّ كَريمٍ وَمِن أَبِ

وَفارَقتُ مِن عَمٍّ كَريمٍ وَمِن أَبِ

I have lamented the loss of a cousin and a close companion,

And I grieved over the loss of a cousin and aunt,

and parted from a generous uncle and a father.

And I parted from a generous uncle and father,

فَبانوا وَلَم يُحدِث عَلَيَّ سَبيلُهُم

فَبانوا وَلَم يُحدِث عَلَيَّ سَبيلُهُم

سِوى أَمَلي فيما أَمامي وَمَرغَبي

سِوى أَمَلي فيما أَمامي وَمَرغَبي

They departed, and their course brought me nothing new

So they passed away, leaving behind no path but

except my hope and desire for what lies ahead.

My hopes in what's ahead and my desires,

فَأَيَّ أَوانٍ لا تَجِئني مَنِيَّتي

فَأَيَّ أَوانٍ لا تَجِئني مَنِيَّتي

بِقَصدٍ مِنَ المَعروفِ لا أَتَعَجَّبِ

بِقَصدٍ مِنَ المَعروفِ لا أَتَعَجَّبِ

Whenever my appointed death comes to me

So when will my fate come to me,

by a familiar course, I shall not be surprised.

With no surprise, out of kindness?

فَلَستُ بِرُكنٍ مِن أَبانٍ وَصاحَةٍ

فَلَستُ بِرُكنٍ مِن أَبانٍ وَصاحَةٍ

وَلا الخالِداتِ مِن سُواجٍ وَغُرَّبِ

وَلا الخالِداتِ مِن سُواجٍ وَغُرَّبِ

For I am no crag of Aban or Sahah,

For I'm neither an eternal mountain nor plain,

nor one of the enduring heights of Suwaj and Ghurrab.

Nor one of the everlasting Pleiades nor Capella,

قَضَيتُ لُباناتٍ وَسَلَّيتُ حاجَةٍ

قَضَيتُ لُباناتٍ وَسَلَّيتُ حاجَةٍ

وَنَفسُ الفَتى رَهنٌ بِقَمرَةِ مُؤرِبِ

وَنَفسُ الفَتى رَهنٌ بِقَمرَةِ مُؤرِبِ

I have fulfilled desires and put longing aside,

I have fulfilled prayers and poured libations,

and a young man's soul is hostage to a cunning gambler's winning throw.

And the soul of youth is held ransom by the wine-pourer,

وَفِتيانِ صِدقٍ قَد غَدَوتُ عَلَيهِمُ

وَفِتيانِ صِدقٍ قَد غَدَوتُ عَلَيهِمُ

بِلا دَخِنٍ وَلا رَجيعٍ مُجَنَّبِ

بِلا دَخِنٍ وَلا رَجيعٍ مُجَنَّبِ

Many true companions I have visited at daybreak,

And I raced at dawn to visit true friends,

without a smoke-tainted draught or stale wine set aside,

Without turning back or returning, straight on course,

بِمُجتَزَفٍ جَونٍ كَأَنَّ خَفائَهُ

بِمُجتَزَفٍ جَونٍ كَأَنَّ خَفائَهُ

قَرا حَبَشِيٍّ في السَرَومَطِ مُحقَبِ

قَرا حَبَشِيٍّ في السَرَومَطِ مُحقَبِ

with a bulky black wineskin, its covering like

With smooth, delicate steps as though his slippers

an Abyssinian's back, girdled in a hairy-hide garment.

Were Ethiopian leather on a plush carpet,

إِذا أَرسَلَت كَفُّ الوَليدِ كِعامَهُ

إِذا أَرسَلَت كَفُّ الوَليدِ كِعامَهُ

يَمُجُّ سُلافاً مِن رَحيقٍ مُعَطَّبِ

يَمُجُّ سُلافاً مِن رَحيقٍ مُعَطَّبِ

When the serving boy's hand releases its stopper,

When the hand of al-Walid extends his cup,

it gushes first-drawn wine, pure and treated with cotton.

It overflows with scented wine,

فَمَهما نَغِض مِنهُ فَإِنَّ ضَمانَهُ

فَمَهما نَغِض مِنهُ فَإِنَّ ضَمانَهُ

عَلى طَيِّبِ الأَردانِ غَيرِ مُسَبَّبِ

عَلى طَيِّبِ الأَردانِ غَيرِ مُسَبَّبِ

However much we drain from it, its replacement rests

And no matter how much he drinks, his warranty

upon a man with fragrant sleeves, beyond reproach,

Is always the pure spices, without cause,

جَميلِ الأُسى فيما أَتى الدَهرُ دونَهُ

جَميلِ الأُسى فيما أَتى الدَهرُ دونَهُ

كَريمِ الثَنا حُلوِ الشَمائِلِ مُعجِبِ

كَريمِ الثَنا حُلوِ الشَمائِلِ مُعجِبِ

gracious in sharing when Time bars the way,

Beautiful is his grief over what time has ruined,

noble in repute, sweet in character, admirable.

Noble his praise, charming his character, captivating,

تَراهُ رَخيَّ البالِ إِن تَلقَ تَلقَهُ

تَراهُ رَخيَّ البالِ إِن تَلقَ تَلقَهُ

كَريماً وَما يَذهَب بِهِ الدَهرُ يَذهَبِ

كَريماً وَما يَذهَب بِهِ الدَهرُ يَذهَبِ

You see him easy of mind; if you meet him, you find him

You see him easygoing if you meet him,

generous—whatever Time carries away, let it go.

Generous, unaffected by the passage of time,

يُثَبّي ثَناءً مِن كَريمٍ وَقَولُهُ

يُثَبّي ثَناءً مِن كَريمٍ وَقَولُهُ

أَلا اِنعَم عَلى حُسنِ التَحِيَّةِ وَاِشرَبِ

أَلا اِنعَم عَلى حُسنِ التَحِيَّةِ وَاِشرَبِ

He gathers a noble man's praise, and his words are:

He affirms with praise from the generous, and his words:

'Come, be happy with this fair greeting, and drink!'

“Please, enjoy good company and drink!”

لَدُن أَن دَعا ديكُ الصَباحِ بِسُحرَةٍ

لَدُن أَن دَعا ديكُ الصَباحِ بِسُحرَةٍ

إِلى قَدرِ وِردِ الخامِسِ المُتَأَوِّبِ

إِلى قَدرِ وِردِ الخامِسِ المُتَأَوِّبِ

From when the morning cock called before dawn

Since the rooster called at dawn to the fifth regular visit,

until the evening return of the camel due its fifth-day drink.

Of those who don flowing attire, as though,

مِنَ المُسبِلينَ الرَيطَ لَذٍّ كَأَنَّما

مِنَ المُسبِلينَ الرَيطَ لَذٍّ كَأَنَّما

تَشَرَّبَ ضاحي جِلدِهِ لَونَ مُذهَبِ

تَشَرَّبَ ضاحي جِلدِهِ لَونَ مُذهَبِ

A pleasure-lover among those trailing fine cloaks, as though

The surface of his skin had taken on the color of gold,

the exposed part of his skin had drunk in the color of gilt.

And helpless whose shackles I’ve removed, and a bucket

وَعانٍ فَكَكتُ الكَبلَ عَنهُ وَسُدفَةٍ

وَعانٍ فَكَكتُ الكَبلَ عَنهُ وَسُدفَةٍ

سَرَيتُ وَأَصحابي هَدَيتُ بِكَوكَبِ

سَرَيتُ وَأَصحابي هَدَيتُ بِكَوكَبِ

Many a captive I freed from his fetters; and through darkness

I took by night, my friends and I, guiding with a star,

I traveled by night and guided my companions by a star.

I traveled with them until their star disappeared,

سَرَيتُ بِهِم حَتّى تَغَيَّبَ نَجمُهُم

سَرَيتُ بِهِم حَتّى تَغَيَّبَ نَجمُهُم

وَقالَ النَعوسُ نَوَّرَ الصُبحُ فَاِذهَبِ

وَقالَ النَعوسُ نَوَّرَ الصُبحُ فَاِذهَبِ

I traveled with them until their star disappeared,

And the sleepy said, “Dawn has illuminated, so be off!”

and the drowsy one said, 'Dawn has lit up: go on!'

So I didn’t close off what I shepherded, and lost property I returned,

فَلَم أُسدِ ما أَرعى وَتَبلٍ رَدَدتُهُ

فَلَم أُسدِ ما أَرعى وَتَبلٍ رَدَدتُهُ

وَأَنجَحتُ بَعدَ اللَهِ مِن خَيرِ مَطلَبِ

وَأَنجَحتُ بَعدَ اللَهِ مِن خَيرِ مَطلَبِ

I did not neglect what I guarded, and I repaid a blood-debt,

And by God’s help succeeded in the best pursuit,

and, with God foremost, attained the best prize of my quest.

And answered the prayer of one struck with terror, and lifted

وَدَعوَةِ مَرهوبٍ أَجَبتُ وَطَعنَةٍ

وَدَعوَةِ مَرهوبٍ أَجَبتُ وَطَعنَةٍ

رَفَعتُ بِها أَصواتَ نَوحٍ مُسَلَّبِ

رَفَعتُ بِها أَصواتَ نَوحٍ مُسَلَّبِ

I answered a feared man's call; and a spear-thrust

Voices of lament for those hamstrung and crucified,

with which I raised the cries of mourners clad in mourning.

And rain whose pouring adorned the plains,

وَغَيثٍ بِدَكداكٍ يَزينُ وَهادَهُ

وَغَيثٍ بِدَكداكٍ يَزينُ وَهادَهُ

نَباتٌ كَوَشيِ العَبقَرِيِّ المُخَلَّبِ

نَباتٌ كَوَشيِ العَبقَرِيِّ المُخَلَّبِ

And a rain-fed pasture on flat sands, whose hollows were adorned

With plants like etched embellishment on parchment,

with vegetation like the embroidery of richly patterned Abqari cloth.

Wild cows dripped upon it whenever sap flows from it,

أَرَبَّت عَلَيهِ كُلُّ وَطفاءَ جَونَةٍ

أَرَبَّت عَلَيهِ كُلُّ وَطفاءَ جَونَةٍ

هَتوفٍ مَتى يُنزِف لَها الوَبلُ تَسكُبِ

هَتوفٍ مَتى يُنزِف لَها الوَبلُ تَسكُبِ

Every dark, thick-fringed cloud lingered over it,

With one of delight, gazelles inclined toward him,

thundering; when its downpour was drained, it poured again.

And sprouts adorned him with interwoven leaves,

بِذي بَهجَةٍ كَنَّ المَقانِبُ صَوبَهُ

بِذي بَهجَةٍ كَنَّ المَقانِبُ صَوبَهُ

وَزَيَّنَهُ أَطرافُ نَبتٍ مُشَرَّبِ

وَزَيَّنَهُ أَطرافُ نَبتٍ مُشَرَّبِ

In a lovely place where mounted bands sheltered from its showers,

Dawn's rise unveiled him when I descended above a watchtower,

and the tips of richly tinged plants adorned it.

And a fasting crescent between Sama and Rijlah,

جَلاهُ طُلوعُ الشَمسِ لَمّا هَبَطتُهُ

جَلاهُ طُلوعُ الشَمسِ لَمّا هَبَطتُهُ

وَأَشرَفتُ مِن قُضفانِهِ فَوقَ مَرقَبِ

وَأَشرَفتُ مِن قُضفانِهِ فَوقَ مَرقَبِ

Sunrise unveiled it when I descended into it,

And white Tawam between Maysar and Mijnan,

and from its little sandhills I looked out above a lookout point.

I enjoyed his call - the beasts did not frighten him

وَصُحمٍ صِيامٍ بَينَ صَمدٍ وَرَجلَةٍ

وَصُحمٍ صِيامٍ بَينَ صَمدٍ وَرَجلَةٍ

وَبَيضٍ تُؤامٍ بَينَ مَيثٍ وَمِذنَبِ

وَبَيضٍ تُؤامٍ بَينَ مَيثٍ وَمِذنَبِ

And dark-gray beasts, motionless between a rise and a hollow,

With aversion, like the trimmed trunk of a Hajari palm,

and white ones in pairs between soft ground and a watercourse.

With a steady trot whose gait is a way,

بَسَرتُ نَداهُ لَم تَسَرَّب وُحوشُهُ

بَسَرتُ نَداهُ لَم تَسَرَّب وُحوشُهُ

بِغَربٍ كَجِذعِ الهاجِرِيِّ المُشَذَّبِ

بِغَربٍ كَجِذعِ الهاجِرِيِّ المُشَذَّبِ

I sought its dew early, before its wild beasts spread out,

For salted fish displayed but not arranged,

on a spirited steed, like a Hajar man's branch-stripped palm trunk,

If a distance came between us I’d shake it off,

بِمُطَّرِدٍ جَلسٍ عَلَتهُ طَريقَةٌ

بِمُطَّرِدٍ جَلسٍ عَلَتهُ طَريقَةٌ

لِسَمكِ عِظامٍ عُرِّضَت لَم تُنَصَّبِ

لِسَمكِ عِظامٍ عُرِّضَت لَم تُنَصَّبِ

straight-built and tall, with a ridge rising along its back

And if the unseen drew near I’d confront it and mount it,

from the height of bones set broad, not upright.

Of high purpose, his restraint assured,

إِذا ما نَأى مِنّي بَراحٌ نَفَضتُهُ

إِذا ما نَأى مِنّي بَراحٌ نَفَضتُهُ

وَإِن يَدنُ مِنّي الغَيبُ أُلجِم فَأَركَبِ

وَإِن يَدنُ مِنّي الغَيبُ أُلجِم فَأَركَبِ

Whenever distant open country lay before me, I scoured it,

On the cheek of a soft-lipped gazelle, chained,

and if the unseen draws near, I bridle and mount

So when darkness shrouded every cheek,

رَفيعَ اللَبانِ مُطمَئِنّاً عِذارُهُ

رَفيعَ اللَبانِ مُطمَئِنّاً عِذارُهُ

عَلى خَدِّ مَنخوضِ الغَرارَينِ صُلَّبِ

عَلى خَدِّ مَنخوضِ الغَرارَينِ صُلَّبِ

a high-chested steed, his cheekstrap resting snugly

And nightfall cast hands against each infidel west,

against the cheek of a strong-built one, lean along both flanks.

I turned away from him and his reins prevented me,

فَلَمّا تَغَشّى كُلَّ ثَغرٍ ظَلامُهُ

فَلَمّا تَغَشّى كُلَّ ثَغرٍ ظَلامُهُ

وَأَلقَت يَداً في كافِرٍ مُسيَ مَغرِبِ

وَأَلقَت يَداً في كافِرٍ مُسيَ مَغرِبِ

When darkness covered every pass,

With force, hastening hot breaths,

and the sun cast a hand into night's covering at evening's setting,

Your approval, so if you strike when his side passes,

تَجافَيتُ عَنهُ وَاِتَّقاني عِنانُهُ

تَجافَيتُ عَنهُ وَاِتَّقاني عِنانُهُ

بِشَدٍّ مِنَ التَقريبِ عَجلانَ مُلهَبِ

بِشَدٍّ مِنَ التَقريبِ عَجلانَ مُلهَبِ

I lifted myself off him, and his rein warded me off

It increases you, and if you’re content with that, he persists,

with a swift, fiery burst of cantering.

Passionate, stirred by his south winds,

رِضاكَ فَإِن تَضرِب إِذا مارَ عِطفُهُ

رِضاكَ فَإِن تَضرِب إِذا مارَ عِطفُهُ

يَزِدكَ وَإِن تَقنَع بِذَلِكَ يَدأَبِ

يَزِدكَ وَإِن تَقنَع بِذَلِكَ يَدأَبِ

To your liking: if you strike him when his flank sways,

Hastening to the wild cows of Mount Tilah to drink,

he gives you more; and if you are content with that, he keeps on,

So he made me flee at dawn when I roused him,

هَوِيَّ غُدافٍ هَيَّجَتهُ جَنوبُهُ

هَوِيَّ غُدافٍ هَيَّجَتهُ جَنوبُهُ

حَثيثٍ إِلى أَذراءِ طَلحٍ وَتَنضُبِ

حَثيثٍ إِلى أَذراءِ طَلحٍ وَتَنضُبِ

with the swoop of a raven stirred by its south wind,

With pairs of buckets from the water wheel, drawing water,

hastening toward the tops of acacia and tandub trees.

And a day when I rested from his affair on the left,

فَأَصبَحَ يُذريني إِذا ما اِحتَثَثتُهُ

فَأَصبَحَ يُذريني إِذا ما اِحتَثَثتُهُ

بِأَزواجِ مَعلولٍ مِنَ الدَلوِ مُعشِبِ

بِأَزواجِ مَعلولٍ مِنَ الدَلوِ مُعشِبِ

By morning he was tossing me high whenever I urged him on,

He tore the fringes of the embroidered hem,

among paired beasts on grassland repeatedly watered by the Bucket.

He eased the birthing camel and the living sun,

وَيَومٍ هَوادي أَمرِهِ لِشَمالِهِ

وَيَومٍ هَوادي أَمرِهِ لِشَمالِهِ

يُهَتِّكُ أَخطالَ الطِرافِ المُطَنَّبِ

يُهَتِّكُ أَخطالَ الطِرافِ المُطَنَّبِ

And a day whose first signs belonged to its north wind,

When its fires were kindled did not blaze,

tearing the trailing skirts of the guy-roped leather tent,

The snow drifts panicked in his shade,

يُنيخُ المَخاضَ البُركَ وَالشَمسُ حَيَّةٌ

يُنيخُ المَخاضَ البُركَ وَالشَمسُ حَيَّةٌ

إِذا ذُكِّيَت نيرانُها لَم تَلَهَّبِ

إِذا ذُكِّيَت نيرانُها لَم تَلَهَّبِ

making pregnant camels crouch while the sun was still alive,

With hands joined and knees bent,

though its fires were kindled, they did not blaze.

And a she-camel I shod and exhausted,

ذَعَرتُ قِلاصَ الثَلجِ تَحتَ ظِلالِهِ

ذَعَرتُ قِلاصَ الثَلجِ تَحتَ ظِلالِهِ

بِمَثنى الأَيادي وَالمَنيحِ المُعَقَّبِ

بِمَثنى الأَيادي وَالمَنيحِ المُعَقَّبِ

I startled the snow's young she-camels beneath its shadows,

When the family stayed up late every night,

with gifts twice over and the manih arrow drawn again.

So I tasked her and she became calm,

وَناجِيَةٍ أَنعَلتُها وَاِبتَذَلتُها

وَناجِيَةٍ أَنعَلتُها وَاِبتَذَلتُها

إِذا ما اِسجَهَرَّ الآلُ في كُلِّ سَبسَبِ

إِذا ما اِسجَهَرَّ الآلُ في كُلِّ سَبسَبِ

And many a swift she-camel I shod and put to hard use,

Docile as planks from a worn-out rooftop,

whenever mirage blazed across every open plain.

Whenever I wished I could hear bleating in the wasteland

فَكَلَّفتُها وَهماً فَآبَت رَكِيَّةً

فَكَلَّفتُها وَهماً فَآبَت رَكِيَّةً

طَليحاً كَأَلواحِ الغَبيطِ المُذَأَأَبِ

طَليحاً كَأَلواحِ الغَبيطِ المُذَأَأَبِ

I charged her with a distant journey, and she returned worn down,

Answering the flute like a perforated tambourine,

exhausted, like the boards of a projecting-ended camel litter.

And disputants standing in the bare land as though they

مَتى ما أَشَأ أَسمَع عِراراً بِقَفرَةٍ

مَتى ما أَشَأ أَسمَع عِراراً بِقَفرَةٍ

تُجيبُ زِماراً كَاليَراعِ المُثَقَّبِ

تُجيبُ زِماراً كَاليَراعِ المُثَقَّبِ

Whenever I wish, I hear a male ostrich's cry in the wilderness,

Were foreign cranes, and every flowered meadow taxed,

answered by a female's piping call, like a pierced reed flute.

Musk and brocade atop their chests

وَخَصمٍ قِيامٍ بِالعَراءِ كَأَنَّهُم

وَخَصمٍ قِيامٍ بِالعَراءِ كَأَنَّهُم

قُرومٌ غَيارى كُلَّ أَزهَرَ مُصعَبِ

قُرومٌ غَيارى كُلَّ أَزهَرَ مُصعَبِ

And adversaries standing in the open, as though they were

Like the quilts of Christ, intricately stitched,

breeding camels, jealous of every bright, unbroken male.

Barking of healthy wolves every night

عَلا المِسكَ وَالديباجَ فَوقَ نُحورِهِم

عَلا المِسكَ وَالديباجَ فَوقَ نُحورِهِم

فَراشُ المَسيحِ كَالجُمانِ المُثَقَّبِ

فَراشُ المَسيحِ كَالجُمانِ المُثَقَّبِ

Over the musk and brocade upon their throats rose

In the crooked path by a screened doorway,

scattered droplets of sweat, like pierced pearls.

I witnessed and their lies did not succeed before me,

نَشينُ صِحاحَ البيدِ كُلَّ عَشِيَّةٍ

نَشينُ صِحاحَ البيدِ كُلَّ عَشِيَّةٍ

بِعوجِ السَراءِ عِندَ بابٍ مُحَجَّبِ

بِعوجِ السَراءِ عِندَ بابٍ مُحَجَّبِ

We scar the unblemished desert expanses every evening,

And I did not heed the praise of any troublemaker,

with curved sara-wood bows at a screened doorway.

I dismissed them scattered, as though their rigidity

شَهِدتُ فَلَم تَنجَح كَواذِبُ قَولُهُم

شَهِدتُ فَلَم تَنجَح كَواذِبُ قَولُهُم

لَدَيَّ وَلَم أَحفِل ثَنا كُلِّ مِشغَبِ

لَدَيَّ وَلَم أَحفِل ثَنا كُلِّ مِشغَبِ

I attended, and the falsehoods in their speech did not prevail

Were fallen horns, intertwined,

with me, nor did I heed any wrangler's praise.

If they make things easy, the easy is my share and path,

أَصدَرتُهُم شَتّى كَأَنَّ قِسِيَّهُم

أَصدَرتُهُم شَتّى كَأَنَّ قِسِيَّهُم

قُرونُ صِوارٍ ساقِطٍ مُتَلَغِّبِ

قُرونُ صِوارٍ ساقِطٍ مُتَلَغِّبِ

I sent them away scattered, their bows as though

And if they grieve me, I mount them all,

the horns of a herd of wild cattle, fallen and utterly spent.

Of high resolve, his restraint assured,

فَإِن يُسهِلوا فَالسَهلُ حَظّي وَطُرقَتي

فَإِن يُسهِلوا فَالسَهلُ حَظّي وَطُرقَتي

وَإِن يُحزِنوا أَركَب بِهِم كُلَّ مَركَبِ

وَإِن يُحزِنوا أَركَب بِهِم كُلَّ مَركَبِ

If they take easy ground, easy ground is my portion and my path;

On the cheek of a soft-lipped gazelle, chained,

and if they take rough ground, I ride with them along every course.