تيقظ والأيام في غير نعسة

فمنه على عين الزمان عيون

He awoke, while the days were still drowsy,

With eyes over the eye of time.

ففي كل غور من مشاكل دهره

له مرصد من رأيه وكمين

In every abyss of its troubles,

He has an observatory of his opinion and an ambush.

وفي كل أمر تقتضيه شؤونه

ظهور بحسب المقتضى وبطون

And in every matter required by its affairs,

An appearance according to what is required, and essence.

تسابق فعل الجد أفعال رأيه

فتحكم فيما كان أو سيكون

The actions of his determination race ahead of his opinion's actions,

Judging what was or will be.

تراه غضيض الطرف وهو مراقب

ويرجف منه الدهر وهو سكون

You see him narrow-eyed while he is watchful,

And time trembles while he is still.

له بصر في ملبس الأمر نافذ

فيدرك كنه الأمر وهو مصون

He has insight into the garb of matters,

Grasping the essence of things while secure.

وتوحي له الحق المبين أصالة

من الرأي فيما لا يكاد يبين

The clear truth whispers to him innately

Opinions on what can barely be seen.

يوافيه قبل الفكر حكم وحكمة

إذا شاجرته في الشؤون شؤون

Wisdom and judgment come to him before thought

When affairs clash with his affairs.

تكهنت الأفكار في فهم رأيه

وأحكامها فيما استكن ظنون

Ideas speculate on grasping his opinion,

And their judgments on what suspicions harbored.

بظاهر بين الحزم والرأي جيشه

يشن له الغارات وهو قطين

With the appearance of determination and opinion his army wages raids,

While he remains serene.

كأن غمار الدهر من حول حزمه

شكوك تجلى بينهن يقين

It is as if the clouds of time around his determination

Are doubts, certainty shining between them.