فَلا تَصِفَنَّ الحَربَ عِندي فَإِنَّها

طَعامِيَ مُذ بِعتُ الصِبا وَشَرابي

So describe not the war in my presence, for it

Has been my food since I was a lad in my teens, and my drink.

وَقَد عَرَفَت وَقعَ المَساميرِ مُهجَتي

وَشُقَّقَ عَن رُزقِ النُصولِ إِهابي

And my forehead has felt the burden of its rough times,

As sustenance has dwindled and life has worn me down.

وَلَجَّجتُ في حُلوِ الزَمانِ وَمُرِّهِ

وَأَنفَقتُ مِن عُمري بِغَيرِ حِسابِ

I have waded through the sweetness of life and its bitterness.

And spent my years without keeping count.