وَأُقسِمُ لَو سُمتَني أَن تَنالَ

وَأُقسِمُ لَو سُمتَني أَن تَنالَ

كَفّي الكَواكِبَ لَم أَعجِزِ

كَفّي الكَواكِبَ لَم أَعجِزِ

And I swear, were you to bid me reach

I swear, if you dared me to pluck

The stars with my hand, I would not fail.

The stars with my hands, I'd not falter

وَلَو رُمتَ مِنِّيَ بيضَ الأَنوُقِ

وَلَو رُمتَ مِنِّيَ بيضَ الأَنوُقِ

وَعَنقاءَ مَغرِبَ لَم تُعوِزِ

وَعَنقاءَ مَغرِبَ لَم تُعوِزِ

And were you to seek from me the vulture's eggs

And if you challenged me to hunt

And ʿAnqāʾ Maghrib, they would not be lacking.

The ostriches and gazelles of Maghreb, I'd not waiver

وَقَد غادَرَتني صُروفُ الزَمانِ

وَقَد غادَرَتني صُروفُ الزَمانِ

لَديكَ جَريحاً وَلَم يُجهَزِ

لَديكَ جَريحاً وَلَم يُجهَزِ

And indeed the vicissitudes of time have left me

Yet time's vicissitudes have left me

Wounded before you, but not yet finished off.

Wounded by you, neglected and unhealed

وَمِلتَ عَلَيَّ مَعَ الحادِثاتِ

وَمِلتَ عَلَيَّ مَعَ الحادِثاتِ

وَما في قَناتِيَ مِن مَغمَزِ

وَما في قَناتِيَ مِن مَغمَزِ

And you sided with calamities against me,

You grew weary of me amidst calamities

Yet there is no weak spot in my spear-shaft.

With no weakening of my resolve

وَلي عِندَ أَيّامِ دَهري المَشومِ

وَلي عِندَ أَيّامِ دَهري المَشومِ

وُعودٌ مِنَ الحَظِّ لَم تُنجَزِ

وُعودٌ مِنَ الحَظِّ لَم تُنجَزِ

And the days of my ill-starred life hold for me

Throughout my ill-fated days

Promises from fortune, still unfulfilled.

Fortune's promises to me went unfulfilled

فَكُن ثابِتاً في الرِضى وَاِختَلِس

فَكُن ثابِتاً في الرِضى وَاِختَلِس

عَلى السُخطِ خُلسَةَ مُستَوفِزِ

عَلى السُخطِ خُلسَةَ مُستَوفِزِ

So be steadfast in your favor, and snatch

So remain steadfast in contentment and discreetly

Only a fleeting moment for anger, like one poised to rise.

Steal provocation's galvanizing power