أَبى الدَهرُ أَن يَقنى الحَياءَ ويندما

وَأن يَمحوَ الذَنبَ الَّذي كانَ قَدَّما

Time refused to make me feel ashamed and regretful,

And erase the sin which I had earlier committed,

وَأَن يَتَلَقّى وَجهُ عَتبيَ وَجهُهُ

بِعُذرٍ يُغشِّي صَفحَتَيهِ التَذَمُما

And make his face meet my words of reproach

With an excuse covering both his cheeks.

سَتَعلَمُ بَعدي مَن تَكونُ سُيوفُهُ

إِلى كُلِّ صَعبٍ من مراقِيكَ سُلّما

After me you will know whose swords

To every rugged place of your heights are a ladder.

سَتَرجِعُ إِن حاوَلتَ دونيَ فَتكَةً

بِأخجَلَ مِنهُ المُبارز أَحجَما

You will return if you try aggression without me

More reluctant than the one challenged to fight.