عَذيري مِنَ العِشرينَ يَغمِزنَ صَعدَتي

وَمِن نُوَبِ الأَيّامِ يَقرَعنَ مَروتي

My excuse from the twenties wink at my vow

And from the vicissitudes of days beat my manliness

وَمِن هِمَمٍ أَوجَدنَني في عَشيرَتي

وَأَكثَرنَ ما بَينَ الأَقارِبِ غُربَتي

And from ambitions that made me estranged among my tribe

And increased what was between the kinfolk of my estrangement

وَمِن عَزَماتٍ كُلَّ يَومٍ يَقِفنَ بي

عَلى كُلِّ بابٍ لِلمَقاديرِ مُصمَتِ

And from resolves that stand by me everyday

At every gate of destinies silent

وَمِن مُهجَةٍ لا تَرأَمُ الضَيمَ مَرَّةً

يُعَجِّلُ عَن دارِ المَذَلَّةِ نَهضَتي

And from a zeal that does not see harm ever

That hastens my rise from the abode of disgrace

وَمِن لَوعَةٍ لِلحُبِّ مَشحوذَةِ الظُبى

إِذا ضَرَبَت في جانِبِ القَومِ ثَنَّتِ

And from a yearning to love sharpened of passion

When it strikes the side of the tribe it bent

وَمِن زَفرَةٍ تَحتَ الشِغافِ مُقيمَةٍ

إِذَ قُلتُ قَد وَلّى بِها الدَهرُ كَرَّتِ

And from a sigh under grief residing

When I said time has turned away from it and stopped

تُذَكِّرُ أَيّاماً مَضَينَ وَلَو فَدَت

بِنانُ يَدي تِلكَ اللَيالي لَفُلَّتِ

Reminding days passed though my hands could redeem

Those nights if they prolonged but they slipped

يُخالِسُنا الأَحبابُ حَتّى تَقَطَّعَت

قَرائينُنا رَيبَ الزَمانِ المُشَتِّتِ

The loved ones cheat us until our companionships severed

By the doubt of time dispersed

وَلَم يَبقَ لي إِلّا عُلَيقُ مَضَنَّةٍ

أُداري اللَيالي عَنهُ إِمّا أَلَمَّتِ

And nothing remains for me but a suffering warrant

I turn the nights from it, whether it harmed or eased

فَيا لَيتَها قَد أَنسَأَتهُ وَلَيتَها

عَلَيهِ وَإِن لَم يَنجُ يَوماً أَذَمَّتِ

Oh if only it forgot him, and oh if only upon him

Even if he survives no day it pained

سَقى اللَهُ مَن أَمسى عَلى النَأيِ عِلَّتي

وَقَد كانَ مَع قُربِ المَزارِ تَعِلَّتي

May God water who spent the night away from my ailment

When being near the shrine used to cure me

أَقِلني أَقِلني نَظرَةً ما اِحتَسَبتُها

فَقَد أَنهَلَت قَلبي غَليلاً وَعَلَّتِ

Take me, just take me with a glance I never reckoned

For it has quenched my heart with anguish and ailed

فَشَوقاً إِلى وَجهِ الحَبيبِ تَلَهُّفي

وَمَيلاً إِلى دارِ الحَبيبِ تَلَفُّتي

Yearning for the face of the beloved my craving

And leaning towards the abode of the beloved my inclination

جَرَت خَطرَةٌ مِنهُ عَلى القَلبِ كُلَّما

زَجَرتُ لَها العَينَ الدَموعَ أَرَشَّتِ

An idea of him passes my heart whenever

I deter the eye tears it sheds

وَمَرَّت عَلى لُبّي فَقُلتُ لَعَلَّها

تُجاوِزُني مَكظومَةً فَاِستَمَرَّتِ

And it passes my mind so I said maybe

It would pass me injured so it persisted

أُداري شَجاها كَي يُخَلّى مَكانُهُ

وَهِيهاتَ أَلقَت رَحلَها وَاِطمَأَنَّتِ

I shun its passion so its place may empty

But alas it pitched its bags and settled

وَأَعلَمُ ما خاضَت يَدُ الدَهرِ لِلفَتى

أَمَرَّ مَذاقاً مِن فِراقِ الأَحِبَّةِ

And I know what the hand of fate has tasted the youth

A thing more bitter than being apart from loved ones

فَكَم زَعزَعَتني النائِباتُ فَلَم أُزِل

لَها قَدَمي عَن وَطأَةِ المُتَثَبِّتِ

So how much did adversities shake me but I never

Moved my feet from the stand of the steadfast

وَكَم صاحَتِ الأَيّامُ خَلفي بِرَوعَةٍ

فَصِرتُ بِعَينِ الجازِعِ المُتَلَفِّتِ

And how much did days cry behind me with horrors

And I became with the frightened eye that turns

تَسُلُّ عَليَّ الحادِثاتُ سُيوفَها

فَمِن مُغمَدٍ قَد نالَ مِنّي وَمُصلَتِ

The events bare their swords at me

So some sheathed have attained me and some unsheathed

زِمامي بِكَفِّ الدَهرِ أَتبَعُ خَطوَهُ

وَما الدَهرُ إِلّا مالِكٌ لِلأَزِمَّةِ

I hold the reins of fate following its course

And fate is but the holder of the crises

وَقَد كُنتُ آبى أَن أُقادَ وَإِنَّما

أَلانَ قِيادي مَن أَلانَ عَريكَتي

And I used to refuse to be led but rather

My leading softened who softened my saddle

فَلا تَشمَتوا إِن يَثلِمِ الدَهرُ جانِبي

فَأَكثَرُ مِمّا مَرَّ مِنّي بَقَيَّتي

So do not gloat if fate wounds my side

For most of what passed me remains

تَحَيَّفَ شوساً مِن عُيونٍ فَأَغمَضَت

وَذَلَّلَ غُلباً مِن رِقاِبٍ فَذَلَّتِ

It has blinded an eye so it closed

And subjugated a neck so it bowed

فَآهٍ عَلى الدُنيا إِذ الجَدُّ صاعِدٌ

وَأَوهِ مِنَ الدُنيا إِذا النَعلُ زَلَّتِ

Oh what a loss for the life when seriousness rises

And oh what a pity for life when the slipper slips

أَلا هَل أُخيضُ الطِرفَ يَوماً بِغَمرَةٍ

إِذا الخَيلُ بِالغُرِّ الوُجوهِ تَمَطَّتِ

Should I not squint one day confused

When the horses with dusty faces sneezed

وَلَم تَلقَ فيها غَيرَ طَعنٍ مُضَجِّجٍ

وَضَربٍ سَريعٍ بِالمَنايا مُسَكِّتِ

And would find in it nothing but a resounding stab

And a quick strike with deaths hustled

تَرِنُّ لَهُ هامُ الرِجالِ وَإِن رَمَت

بِأَعيُنِها فيهِ النِساءُ أَرَنَّتِ

The necks of men will incline to it and even if

The women’s eyes in it blinked

فَسَوفَ تَراني طائِراً في غُبارِها

عَلى سابِحٍ تَهفو غَدائِرُ لِمَّتي

So you will see me flying in its dust

On a swimmer my braids fluttered

بِيَومٍ كَثيرٍ بِالغُبارِ عُطاسُهُ

إِذا ثَوَّبَ الداعي قَليلُ المُشَمِّتِ

On a day so dusty its sneeze little

When the caller of few gloaters yelled

مَعارِكُ يُخدِجنَ المِهارَ وَبَعدَها

مَناعي رِجالٍ مُلقَياتِ الأَجِنَّةِ

The battles boil fighting and after

The falling of brave men thrown

وَرُمحي إِلى الأَعداءِ كَيدي وَصارِمي

جَنانِيَ يَومَ الرَوعِ وَالصَبرُ جُنَّتي

With my spear to the enemies my trick and my sword

My shields on the day of horror and patience my armour

وَكُلُّ غُلامٍ ذي جِلادٍ وَنَجدَةٍ

وَكُلُّ جَوادٍ ذي هِباتٍ وَمَيعَةِ

And every young man of might and help

And every steed of gifts and cooperation

إِذا ما الجِيادُ الجُردُ أَجرى لَبانَها

وَشَمَّصَها وَقعُ الظُبى وَالأَسِنَّةِ

When the smooth purebred horses perspired

And the striking of hoofs and fangs foamed

فَإِنَّ عِناني في يَمينِ مُعَوَّدٍ

عَلى عُقَبِ الأَيّامِ قَودَ الأَعِنَّةُ

My reign will be in the right of a seasoned one

Who tames time’s young fillies

إِذا اِعتَرَضَ المَأمولُ مِن دونِهِ الرَدى

شَقَقتُ إِلَيهِ الدارِعينَ بِمُهجَتي

If the wished obstructs, I would tear through the armoured

And plunge in it, I care not if I met

وَغامَستُ فيهِ لا أُبالي لَوَ اَنَّني

تَلَقَّيتُ مِنهُ مُنيَتي أو مَنِيَّتي

From it my death or pleasure

If my soul accepts death, it indeed

إِذا سَمَحَت بِالمَوتِ نَفسي فَإِنَّهُ

يَقِلُّ اِحتِفالي بِالَّذي جَرَّ ميتَتي

Decreases my fervour for what dragged my corpse

And I do not care what fate reaped after

وَما إِن أُبالي ما جَنى الدَهرُ بَعدَما

يَبُلُّ يَميني قائِمٌ مِن صَفيحَتي

My right hand bleeds standing from my sword

So the occurrences of fate in my eyes are not

فَما حَدَثانُ الدَهرِ عِندي بِفاتِكٍ

وَلا جِنَّةُ البَقّارِ عِندي بِجِنَّةِ

Like Paradise for the slaughtered is Paradise

No, I do not count life living with harm

أَلا لا أعُدُّ العَيشَ عَيشاً مَعَ الأَذى

لِأَنَّ قَعيدَ الذُلِّ حَيٌّ كَمَيِّتِ

For sitting in disgrace alive is like dead

They frighten me with death and death is rest

يُخيفونَني بِالمَوتِ وَالمَوتُ راحَةٌ

لِمَن بَينَ غَربَي قَلبِهِ مِثلُ هِمَّتي

For whoever between the sides of his heart my zeal is like

So do not show me your noses for I am

فَلا تَبرُزوا لي بِالأَنوفِ فَإِنَّني

مُعَوَّدَةٌ جَدعَ المَوارِنِ شَفرَتي

Accustomed, blunting the sharp blades, to file

We have built the corridor of glory, its height towering

بَنَينا رِواقَ المَجدِ تَعلو سُموكُهُ

لَقَد عَظُمَت تِلكَ المَباني وَجَلَّتِ

So those buildings have become great and dignified

Keep silent do not say my father for yours

أَقِلّوا عَلَينا لا أَباً لِأَبيكُمُ

وَلا تَرشُقونا بِاللُتَيّا وَبِالَّتي

And do not sprinkle on us insults or faults

You want us to obey while you are the mightiest

تُريدونَ أَن نوطي وَأَنتُم أَعِزَّةٌ

بِأَيِّ كِتابٍ أَم بِأَيَّةِ سُنَّةِ

By what book or which sunna?

If you are from us, indeed your inclination

فَإِن كُنتُمُ مِنّا فَقَد طالَ مَيلُكُم

قَديماً عَلى عيدانِ تِلكَ الأَرومَةِ

Has long been on the rods of the balcony

So no peace until you hear from its buzzing

فَلا صُلحَ حَتّى تَسمَعوا مِن أَزيزِها

صَواعِقَ إِمّا صَكَّتِ الأُذنَ صُكَّتِ

Thunders either deafening the ear or deafening

And no peace until they see from its loftiness

وَلا صُلحَ حَتّى يَنظُروا مِن زُهائِها

شَواهِقَ لا يَبلُغنَ صَوتَ المُصَوِّتِ

Pinnacles the shouter cannot reach

And until you see it shedding to you

وَحَتّى تَروها كَالسَعالى إِلَيكُمُ

تَفَلَّتُ مِن أَرسانِها وَالأَجِلَّةِ

Its arrows from its quivers and armouries

I promise the enemies with the like of it

فَإِنّي زَعيمٌ لِلأَعادي بِمِثلِها

وَذَلِكَ رَهنٌ في ذِمامي وَذِمَّتي

And that is a pledge in my halter and pledge

So oh grower of me, are you by honour flourishing

فَيا مُنبِتي هَل أَنتَ بِالعِزِّ مورِقي

حَنانَيكَ كَم أَبقى وَقَد طالَ مَنبَتي

Your tenderness - how long remains and my growth has prolonged?

Is not my competence at adversities proven?

أَما كَمَلَت عِندَ الخُطوبِ تَجارَتي

أَما خَلَصَت عِندَ الأُمورِ رَوِيَّتي

Is not my way at affairs well navigated?

Am I not measured to every successor

أَما أَنا مَوزونٌ بِكُلِّ خَليفَةٍ

أَرى أَنَفاً مِن أَن يَكونَ خَليفَتي

I see unfit to be my successor?

Am I not from the lofty people who already

أَلَستُ مِنَ القَومِ الأُلى قَد تَسَلَّفوا

دُيونَ العُلى قَبلَ الوَرى في الأَظِلَّةِ

Borrowed the debts of nobility before people in the shadows?

And their feet and palms were not created

وَما خُلِقَت أَقدامُهُم وَأَكُفُّهُم

لِغَيرِ العَوالي وَالظُبى وَالأَسِرَّةِ

Except for the high aims, passion, and captivation

The ones with white foreheads that shine between them

ذَوو الجَبَهاتِ البيضِ تَلمَعُ بَينَها

وُسومُ المَعالي وَالوُجوهِ المُضيئَةِ

Signs of nobility and bright faces

They refused disgrace would touch them from a side

أَبوا أَن يُلِمَّ الذُلُّ مِنهُم بِجانِبٍ

وَما العِزِّ إِلّا لِلنُفوسِ الأَبِيَةِ

And honour is but for the dignified souls

And how many between the one with a clement nose and my carrier

وَكَم بَينَ ذي أَنفٍ حَمِيٍّ وَحامِلي

مَوارِنَ قَد عُوَّدنَ جَذبَ الأَخِشَّةِ

Of shields who are trained to pull armours

Yes I am from the learned but I see

بَلى إِنَّني مَن تَعلَمانِ وَإِنَّما

أَرى الدَهرَ يَعمى عَن بَيانِ فَضيلَتي

Fate blind to explaining my virtue

So I fell with my soul not my family, granting

فَخَرتُ بِنَفسي لا بِأَهلي مُوَفِّراً

عَلى ناقِصي قَومي مَناقِبَ أُسرَتي

To the lacking of my people the virtues of my ancestry

And a day will inevitably come suddenly

وَلابُدَّ يَوماً أَن يَجيءَ فُجاءَةً

فَلا تَنظُراني عِندَ وَقتٍ مُوَقَّتِ

So do not watch me at a promised time

By God, I have not exhausted before attaining it

وَوَاللَهِ لا كَدَّيتُ دونَ مَنالِها

وَظَنّي بِرَبّي أَن يُبِرَّ أَلِيَّتي

And my belief in my Lord is to fulfil my power