أَتاني وَعيدُ اِبنِ الزُّبَيرِ فَلَم أُرَع

وَما مِثلُ قَلبي بِالوَعيدِ يُرَوّعُ

The threat of Ibn al-Zubayr came to me, but I was not afraid,

And my heart is not of the kind that threats can terrify,

فَلا تَرمِيَنّي بِالوَعيدِ فَإِنَّني

سَأَترُكُ ما تَهوى وَأَنفُكَ أَجدَعُ

So do not threaten me, for I will abandon what you desire,

And I will persist, though you split me in two.

فَإِن أَنا لَم أُسعِطكَ غَيظاً بِغارَةٍ

وَأَصدَعُ ما قَد كادَ بِالأَمسِ يُرقَعُ

If I did not enrage you with a sudden raid,

And break what was almost mended yesterday,

فَلا وَضَعَت عِندي حَصانٌ قِناعَها

وَلا قادَني لِلناسِ قَلبٌ مُشَيَّعُ

I would not stable a horse, tying up her muzzle,

Nor would a heart that leads people escort me.

سَتَعلَمُ إِن مالَت بِيَ الرِّيحُ مَيلَةً

عَلَيكَ غَداً أَنّي أَوِ اِيّاكَ أَجزَعُ

You will know, if the wind blows favorably for me,

Tomorrow, whether it is I or you who will despair.

وَفي الشامِ إِخواني وَجُلَّ عَشيرَتي

وَقَد جعلَت نَفسي إِلَيكَ تَطَلَّعُ

In Damascus are my brothers and the bulk of my clan,

And I have set my soul to look to you.