أَبا عَبدِ الإِلَهِ مُعاذُ إِنّي

خَفِيٌّ عَنكَ في الهَيجا مَقامي

O Abdu Al-Ilah Mu'adh, I am

O Abu Abd al-Ilah Mu'adh, truly it seems my high station in the tumult of war remains hidden from your view,

Concealed from you in passionate turmoil

I recalled the vastness of my ambition, and that we wager our very lifeblood upon such high stakes,

ذَكَرتُ جَسيمَ ما طَلَبي وَأَنّا

نُخاطِرُ فيهِ بِالمُهَجِ الجِسامِ

I recalled the immensity of my quest, that

Does one such as I let calamities take their toll, or cower in dread at the meeting with Death?

We risk with resolute souls

And had Time stood before me in human form, my blade would have dyed the parting of his hair crimson,

أَمِثلي تَأخُذُ النَكَباتُ مِنهُ

وَيَجزَعُ مِن مُلاقاةِ الحِمامِ

Does one like me get shaken by misfortunes

The Nights have never attained their will over me, nor have they journeyed with my reins in their hand,

And panic at meeting with doves?

When the eyes of the warhorses are filled with my sight, then woe betide the enemy in waking and in sleep.

وَلَو بَرَزَ الزَمانُ إِلَيَّ شَخصاً

لَخَضَّبَ شَعرَ مَفرِقِهِ حُسامي

Had time confronted me as an entity

My sword would have bloodied its hair's parting

وَما بَلَغَت مَشيئتَها اللَيالي

وَلا سارَت وَفي يَدِها زِمامي

My will has not been achieved by the nights

Nor has it marched with my reins in its hands

إِذا اِمتَللأََت عُيونُ الخَيلُ مِنّي

فَوَيلٌ في التَيَقُّظِ وَالمَنامِ

When horses' eyes fill with me

Woe to awakening and to sleep!