ما كُنتُ أَحسِبُني جَباناً قَبلَ ما

لاقَيتُ لَيلَةَ جانِبِ الأَنهارِ

I did not think myself a coward before when

I met at the riverside a lion in the night,

لَيثاً كَأَنَّ عَلى يَدَيهِ رِحالَةً

جَسِدَ البَراثِنَ مُؤجَدَ الأَظفارِ

Like a traveler in its clutches, fully armed

With claws that tear flesh and bones apart.

لَمّا سَمِعتُ لَهُ زَمازِمَ أَقبَلَت

نَفسي إِلَيَّ وَقُلتُ أَينَ فِراري

When I heard its fierce growls, my soul recoiled

And said: where can you run and hide your fright?

فَضَرَبتُ جِروَتَها وَقُلتُ لَها اِصبِري

وَشَدَدتُ في ضيقِ المَقامِ إِزاري

I whipped its neck and said: have patience, wait,

And in the narrow spot I tightened my belt.

فَلَأَنتَ أَهوَنُ مِن زِيادٍ جانِباً

فَاِذهَب إِلَيكَ مُخَرِّمَ السُفّارِ

For you are less than Ziyad, depart from me,

Destroyer of light cavalry and warrior's heart!