1. أَنَا مَصْدَرُ الْكَلِمِ النَّوَادِي

    بَيْنَ الْحَواضِرِ وَالْبَوادِي

    I am the source of far-famed words

    among the cities and the desert lands.

  2. أَنَا فَارِسٌ أَنَا شَاعِرٌ

    فِي كُلِّ مَلْحَمَةٍ وَنَادِي

    I am a knight; I am a poet

    in every battle and assembly.

  3. فَإِذَا رَكِبْتُ فَإِنَّنِي

    زَيْدُ الْفَوارِسِ فِي الْجِلادِ

    So when I mount, I am indeed

    Zayd of the Knights in combat.

  4. وَإِذَا نَطَقْتُ فَإِنَّنِي

    قُسُّ بْنُ سَاعِدَةَ الإِيَادِي

    And when I speak, I am indeed

    Quss ibn Sāʿidah al-Iyādī.

  5. هَذَا وَذَلِكَ دَيْدَنِي

    فِي كُلِّ مُعْضِلَةٍ نَآدِ

    This and that are my constant practice

    in every formidable predicament.