يا بِشرُ ما لي وَالسَيفِ وَالحَربِ

وَإِنَّ نَجمي لِلَّهوِ وَالطَرَبِ

O Bishr, what have I to do with the sword and war,

When my star is cast only for amusement and song?

فَلا تَثِق بي فَإِنَّني رَجُلٌ

أَكُعُّ عِندَ اللِقاءِ وَالطَلَبِ

So do not place your trust in me, for I am a man

Who recoils in fear at the clash and the assault.

وَإِن رَئيتُ الشُراةَ قَد طَلَعوا

أَلجَمتُ مُهري مِن جانِبِ الذَنَبِ

If I were to see the fierce rebels rising to attack,

I would bridle my colt from the side of its tail.

وَلَستُ أَدري ما الساعِدانِ وَلا الـ

ـتُرسُ وَما بَيضَةٌ مِنَ اللَبَبِ

I distinguish not the vambraces, nor the...

...shield, nor a war-helmet from a breastplate.

هَمّي إِذا ما حُروبُهُم غَلَبَت

أَيُّ الطَريقَينِ لي إِلى الهَرَبِ

My only concern, when their battles overwhelm,

Is which of the two paths offers me escape.

لَو كانَ قَصفٌ وَشُربُ صافِيَةٍ

مَع كُلِّ خَودٍ تَختالُ في السُلُبِ

But were it a revelry and the quaffing of clear wine,

With a tender maiden strutting in fine robes,

وَالنَومُ عِندَ الفَتاةِ أَرشُفُها

وَجَدتُني ثَمَّ فارِسَ العَرَبِ

And sleeping beside the girl, sipping from her lips,

You would find me, there, the champion knight of the Arabs.