يقرُّ بعيني أن أراها مُغيرةً

لها برؤوس المترفين عِثارُ

I admit with my eyes that I want to see her changed,

With the heads of the pampered as a trophy,

سوابح في بحرَيٌ دمٍ وعجاجةٍ

فمندفقٌ مُثعنجرٌ ومُثارُ

Swimmers in a sea of blood and tumult,

Gushing out, stirred up and agitated,

كأن على أعوادها جنَّ عبقرٍ

من الصَّول لولا منطقٌ وشِعارُ

As if mounted on their poles were crazed demons,

Were it not for eloquence and a banner,

تدافعن في غِرْبيب ليلٍ كأنما

جباهُ وجوه السَّابقات نهار

They charge in the darkness of night as though

The faces of the outrunners were the day,

لهن إلى وطءِ القتيل تقدمٌ

ومنهن عن أخذ الأسير نِفارُ

They have precedence in trampling the slain foe,

And some of them recoil from capturing a prisoner,

على الحي لا راجي النَّوال لديهم

يُجادُ ولا باغي الذِّمام يُجارُ

To the living they show no hope of clemency,

Neither given to devotion nor restrained from excess,

إذا قدروا لم يحملوا عن جريمةٍ

فسيَّان حربٌ فيهم وإِسارُ

When they determine no sin makes them falter

Both war and captivity are their nature,

سلاحهمُ يومَ التسالم زينةٌ

وحربهمُ يوم اللقاءِ فِرار

Their weapons on making peace are adornment,

And their war at the encounter is to flee,

كأن مداف الورس فوق وجوهم

إذا قيلَ هذا معْركٌ وغِمار

As if the cheeks of the flowers were upon their faces

When it is said “This is battle and strife!”

تصالح فِهْرٌ فيهم وزنادهُ

وأُوْمِنَ كومٌ عندهم وعِشار

A fox among them makes peace and its tail is perfidy,

And a believing heap among them is betrayal and bribery,

فلا الضيف يقري وهو غرثان ساغب

ولا خابطُ الليل البَهيم يُنارُ

So neither does the rain-drenched guest gain lodging,

Nor the lost wanderer of night find fire,

حلومٌ كعيدان الأراكِ ضعيفةٌ

وأعطافُ هزلٍ ما بهن وقارُ

Their bodies are like weak oleanders,

And their sides move about without dignity,

تمنيت أن الحي خرَّتْ عمادُهُ

فتُنقضُ أوتار ويدركُ ثارُ

I wished the tribe’s pillar would collapse,

That strings might snap and vengeance be gained,

غرست الحجا والودَّ في غير حقه

ولم أدر أنَّ الحادثات ثمارُ

I planted love and friendship in the wrong place,

And did not realize deeds are fruit,

وهون وجدي أن تراخت منيةٌ

ولم يكتسف بدر العلاء سرارُ

I thought my passion diminished,

And the full moon was not unveiled,

فإن نحت الدهر المعاند أثْلَتي

فأنجمَ وُجْدٌ واستُعيد مُعارُ

If fate sculpted my defects,

Then emotion stirred and honor was restored,

فعند ابن سلطانٍ عطاءٌ ونجدةٌ

كفاني عِزٌّ منهما ويَسارُ

For with the son of Sulṭān is gift and help,

Sufficient for me are his power and support.