متى سَالَم الأيّامَ قَبْلي مُسالِمٌ

فرقَّت له حتّى أُسالَم أَيّامي

When will the days make peace with me before I make peace with them?

They have separated from me until I make peace with my days.

صَرَمْتُك يا أَيّامَ دَهْري فصارِمي

ستَدْرِين إنْ نازلتِني كيف إِقدامي

I have rebelled against you, oh days of my life, so rebel against me!

You will know, if you oppose me, how firm my determination is.

أَرَى كلَّ حُرٍّ فيك غيرَ مكرَّمٍ

وكلَّ وضيع في سُعودٍ وإِكرام

I see every free man in you dishonored,

And every lowly one honored and respected.

وهل كلُّ ما يُلهَى به فيكِ مِنْ غِنىً

ومن دولةٍ إلاّ كأضغاث أحلام

Is everything one takes pride in you really a source of wealth?

Is it not just vain dreams and delusions of grandeur?

سأُكرِم نفسي عَنْكِ بالصَّبْرِ عالماً

بأنّكِ ممّن سوف يُقْتَلُ قُدّامي

I will honor myself by showing patience with you,

Knowing that you are among those I will kill before me.

وأنّك من نُوري ضُحاكِ ومِنْ يَدي

قُواكِ ومِنْ سيفي ضِرابُكِ لِلهامِ

You are from my light, my laughter and my hand,

Your strength is from my sword and my blows are to guide you.

سأَستَلّ من عَزمْي لَحْربِكِ صارِماً

وإن كنَّ أَمضى من سُيوفِك أَقلامي

I will firmly draw my strong resolve against you,

Even if my poems are sharper than your swords.

تعالَى علوَّ النجم مَجدي ومفَخَري

وسار مسيرَ الرِّيح جُودي وإنعامي

My glory and pride has risen to the stars,

And my generosity and favors race like the wind.

فلا تُنكِري أَنْ رحتُ وحدَي مفرداً

وأَن بِتّ يَقظانَ الحِجَا غَيْرَ نَوام

Do not deny that I went forth alone,

And that I stayed awake while others were sleeping.

فَجُنْدِيَ تدبيري وسيفي عزيمتي

وقلبي إذا نازلتُ في الحرب ضِرْغامي

My soldiers are my foresight, my sword is my determination,

And my heart, when I engage in battle, is my unwavering strength.