لَقَد نَزَّهَت قَدري عَنِ الشِعرِ أُمَّةٌ

لَقَد نَزَّهَت قَدري عَنِ الشِعرِ أُمَّةٌ

وَلامَ عَلَيهِ مَعشَري وَبَنو أَبي

وَلامَ عَلَيهِ مَعشَري وَبَنو أَبي

Some people have indeed deemed my rank too lofty for poetry,

My people have kept my poetry pure from blame

and my kin and my father's sons have reproached me for it.

And reproached my tribe and the sons of Abu

وَما عَلِموا أَنّي حَمَيتُ ذِمارَهُ

وَما عَلِموا أَنّي حَمَيتُ ذِمارَهُ

عَنِ العارِ لَم أَذهَب بِهِ كُلَّ مَذهَبِ

عَنِ العارِ لَم أَذهَب بِهِ كُلَّ مَذهَبِ

And they did not know that I had protected its honor

They knew not that I protected his reputation

from disgrace: I did not take it down every path.

From dishonor, I did not go the way of others

وَما عابَني نَظمُ القَريضِ وَمَذهَبي

وَما عابَني نَظمُ القَريضِ وَمَذهَبي

رَفيعٌ وَقَلبي في الوَغى غَيرُ قُلَّبِ

رَفيعٌ وَقَلبي في الوَغى غَيرُ قُلَّبِ

And composing verse has not disgraced me; my way

My verse and its rhyme and meter did not displease

is lofty, and my heart in battle is unwavering.

Lofty it was, though in battle I was ruthless

أَقولُ وَفي كَفّي يَراعٌ وَتارَةً

أَقولُ وَفي كَفّي يَراعٌ وَتارَةً

أَقولُ وَسَيفي في مَفارِقِ أَغلَبِ

أَقولُ وَسَيفي في مَفارِقِ أَغلَبِ

I speak with a reed pen in my palm, and at times

At times I say this with a spear in my hand

I speak with my sword in the crown of a mighty warrior's head.

At times I say this, my sword ready to strike