يَعلَمُ الجَدُّ أَنَّني لا أُضامُ

وَمُجيري مِنَ الزَمانِ هُمامُ

The virtuous man knows I do no wrong,

And my protector against time is determination,

لَحَماني أَغَرُّ شيمَتُهُ الكَر

رُ وَنَصلٌ حَلِيُّهُ الإِحرامُ

My companion whose nature is most noble,

His adornment humility and devotion.

رُبَّ قَولٍ نُمِي إِلَيَّ وَعَزمي

غافِلٌ وَالهُمومُ عَنّي نِيامُ

Many words come to me while I am heedless,

And worries over me are dormant.

وَتَعَرَّفتُ قائِليهِ وَلَكِن

آهِ لَو كانَ في يَميني حُسامُ

I know who speaks them, but oh,

If only a sword were in my right hand!

كَيفَ تَخدي إِلَيهِمُ الذُبَّلُ السُم

رُ وَتُعدى عَلَيهِمُ الأَقلامُ

How can the worn-out swords attack them

And pens transgress against them,

دونَ أَن أَقبَلَ المَذَلَّةَ لِلعِز

زِ إِباءٌ وَنَخوَةٌ وَعُرامُ

Without my accepting humiliation against honor-

Pride, magnanimity, and manliness refuse.

وَطِعانٌ تَندَقُّ فيهِ العَوالي

وَضِرابٌ يَزوَرُّ مِنهُ الحِمامُ

Thrusts in which peaks are demolished

And blows from which doves flee.

لَستُ أَدري ماذا يَقولُ لِساني

وَفَمي لِلمَقالِ فيهِ اِزدِحامُ

I know not what my tongue is saying,

And my mouth is congested with words.

وَكَأَنَّ الحِمامَ فينا جَنيبٌ

يَتبَعُ العَيشَ وَالزَمانُ زِمامُ

It is as though among us is a young gazelle

Who follows life and time holds the leash.

فَاِصرِفِ الهَمَّ إِنَّما العَيشُ يَومٌ

وَدَعِ القَولَ إِنَّما الدَهرُ عامُ

So turn away cares-life is but a day-

And leave words-for time is but a year.

أَيُّها العاجِزُ المُكَدَّرُ وِردي

رُبَّما عَرَّفتَكَ تِلكَ الجُمامُ

O you who are frustrated and vexed, perhaps

Those turbans will recognize you.

فَاِنتَفِق في الوِجارِ وَاُقعُد ذَليلاً

قَد كَفاكَ الجُلّى رِجالٌ قِيامُ

So beg among the neighbors and sit disgraced

While men of stature stand guard over you.