أَلا أَبلِغا الوركاءَ أَنَّ عَميدَها

رهينَةُ حَشرٍ مِن جيوشِ الزَعافِرِ

Shall I inform Warka that their chief

Is hostage to a horde of chirping sparrows?

فَمَهلاً لِمَن غَرَّت كَفالَةَ حُقَّةٍ

بَني عامِرٍ أُخرى اللَيالي الغَوابِرِ

Patience, then, for he whose surety was a necklace

Of the Bani Amir - nights pass quickly.

أُتيحَ لَهُ صَرحانِ لما تغلهُ

قراعُ الكَماةِ وَاللُيوثِ المَساعِرِ

He has been granted two castles which he invests,

Though destiny's dice and fierce lions roar;

أُتيحَت لَهُ نارٌ تَسيحُ وَتَلتَوي

وَتَرمي بِأَمثالِ النُجومِ العَباهِرِ

Granted a fire whose flames twist and coil

And spout like a shower of wanton stars.