إِنَّما الناس نَحنُ في كُلِ دار

وَنُداري وَما بِنا مِن بِداري

We are the people in every house

And we pretend while having no pretense

لَو أَرَدنا غَير الجِياد رَكِبنا

حَيثُ سِرنا عَلى الأُسود الضَواري

If we wanted other than valor we would have ridden

Wherever we wished on the ferocious lions

غَيرَ أَن الأَيّام قَد حارَبَتنا

لِاعتِراض مِنا عَلى الأَقدار

Except that days have warred against us

For our objection to the decrees of fate

كُنتُ كَالبَدر إِذ عَراهُ كُسوف

وَنَجا في السَما ضَئيل الدَراري

I was like the full moon when an eclipse afflicted it

And it escaped in the sky with scarcely any light

كُنتُ كَالشَمس حينَ يَحجبها الغَي

م فَتَروي العُيون عَن أَبصار

I was like the sun when clouds conceal it

So eyes refrain from looking

كُنتُ كَالعَنبَر الَّذي فاحَ طيباً

حَيثُ يَلقى مِن الزَمان بِنار

I was like ambergris whose fragrance spread

Whenever it met fire in time

كُنتُ كَالجَوهَر الَّذي صانَهُ الدَه

ر لِحرص عَلَيهِ وَسَط البِحار

I was like a gem preserved by the sea

Out of greed for it amidst the oceans

كُنتُ كَالرَوض إِذ جَفَتهُ غَيوث

لِحُظوظ فَأَخصَبَت أَشعاري

I was like a garden when rains abandoned it

Due to good fortunes so my splendor thrived

كُنتَ كَالصَقر إِذ لَوَتهُ عَن الصَي

د بِغاث مِن أَشأم الأَطيار

You were like a falcon when it turned away from hunting

Hopeless of aid from the most quick-flying of birds

إِن يَكُن عز مُسعف وَنَصير

ما لِحزب الأَحراب مِن أَنصار

If glorious aid and support be present

The league of camps would have no helpers