عَفا ذو الغَضا مِن أُمِّ عَمروٍ فأقفَرا

عَفا ذو الغَضا مِن أُمِّ عَمروٍ فأقفَرا

وَغَيَّرَهُ بَعدي البِلى فَتَغَيَّرا

وَغَيَّرَهُ بَعدي البِلى فَتَغَيَّرا

Dhu al-Ghada has faded, bereft of Umm Amr, and lies deserted.

The forgiving one from Umm Amr's tribe became desolate, so they both changed.

Dhu al-Ghada has been effaced of Umm Amr and become desolate,

Decay has changed it since I left, and it is altered.

And time changed it after me, so they both altered.

And decay altered it after my departure, so it was transformed.

وَبُدِّلَ أَهلاً غيرِها وَتَبَدَّلَت

وَبُدِّلَ أَهلاً غيرِها وَتَبَدَّلَت

بِهِ بَدَلاً مَبدىً سِواهُ وَمَحضَرا

بِهِ بَدَلاً مَبدىً سِواهُ وَمَحضَرا

It was given inhabitants other than her, and she exchanged it

Its people were replaced by others and it was substituted

It exchanged inhabitants other than her, and she exchanged

for another desert encampment and settled abode,

With a substitution for it other than it, though once populated.

In its place a substitute, a different dwelling and abode.

إِلى عَصَرٍ ثُمَّ استَمَرَّت نَواهُمُ

إِلى عَصَرٍ ثُمَّ استَمَرَّت نَواهُمُ

لِصَرفٍ مَضى عَن ذاتِ نَفسِكَ أَعسَرا

لِصَرفٍ مَضى عَن ذاتِ نَفسِكَ أَعسَرا

moving to Asar; then their separation continued

Until an era when their renown persisted

Until the evening, then their separation continued,

through a harsh turn of fate that passed beyond your own will.

Due to circumstances beyond your own soul's capacity.

Due to a turn of fate that passed, most harsh upon your soul.

وَكانَ اجتِماعُ الحيِّ حَتّى تَفَرَّقوا

وَكانَ اجتِماعُ الحيِّ حَتّى تَفَرَّقوا

قَليلاً وَكانوا بِالتَفَرُّقِ أَجدَرا

قَليلاً وَكانوا بِالتَفَرُّقِ أَجدَرا

The clan's gathering, before they dispersed,

The gathering of the living was brief until they separated,

The gathering of the tribe lasted only until they scattered,

was brief, and dispersal suited them better.

And it was better for them to separate.

Briefly, for they were more destined for separation.

بَل الزائِرُ المُنتابُ مِن بَعدِ شُقَّةٍ

بَل الزائِرُ المُنتابُ مِن بَعدِ شُقَّةٍ

وَطولِ ثَناءٍ هاجَ شَوقاً وَذكَّرا

وَطولِ ثَناءٍ هاجَ شَوقاً وَذكَّرا

Rather, the visitor returning after a long journey

But the occasional visitor revived by yearning after an absence,

Nay, it is the phantom visitor returning after a long journey,

and prolonged praise stirred longing and brought memories:

And much praise, his fervor was stirred and he was reminded.

And long absence, stirring longing and memory.

خَيالٌ سَرى مِن أُمِّ عَمروٍ وَدونَها

خَيالٌ سَرى مِن أُمِّ عَمروٍ وَدونَها

تَنائِفُ تُردى ذا الهِبابِ المُيَسَّرا

تَنائِفُ تُردى ذا الهِبابِ المُيَسَّرا

a phantom of Umm Amr that traveled by night, though between us lay

An apparition set out from Umm Amr's abode, and beneath it

A phantom traveled from Umm Amr, while between her lie

wastes that destroy even a spirited, well-trained mount.

Were rising dunes, smoothly flowing.

Wastelands that destroy the brisk, well-paced camel.

طَروقاً وَأَعقابُ النُجومِ كأَنَّها

طَروقاً وَأَعقابُ النُجومِ كأَنَّها

تَوالي هِجانٍ نَحوَ ماءٍ تَغَوَّرا

تَوالي هِجانٍ نَحوَ ماءٍ تَغَوَّرا

It came by night, while the last stars seemed

As if they were the settings of stars coming one after another

Arriving at night, when the trailing stars resembled

like trailing white camels heading toward water sunk deep.

Towards water that became turbulent.

The rear of white camels heading toward sunken water.

فَقُلتُ لَها أُبي فَقَد فاتَنا الصِبا

فَقُلتُ لَها أُبي فَقَد فاتَنا الصِبا

وآذِنَ رَيعانُ الشَبابِ فادبَرا

وآذِنَ رَيعانُ الشَبابِ فادبَرا

I said to her, 'Return, for youthful folly has passed us by,

So I said: Oh how youth has eluded us,

I said to her: 'Refrain, for youth has passed us by,

and the prime of youth has announced its departure and turned away.

And the freshness of youth gave notice of its departure.

And the prime of youth signaled farewell and departed.

وَحالَت خُطوبٌ بَعدَ عَهدِكَ دونَنا

وَحالَت خُطوبٌ بَعدَ عَهدِكَ دونَنا

وَعَدّى عَن اللَهو العَداءُ فأقصَرا

وَعَدّى عَن اللَهو العَداءُ فأقصَرا

Troubles have come between us since you last knew me,

Events came between us after your time,

And calamities have intervened between us since your time,

and enmity turned me from amusement, bringing it to an end.

And enmity went beyond recreation, so it was cut short.

And enmity diverted me from amusement, so I abstained.'

أُمورٌ وأَبناءٌ وَحالٌ تَقَلَّبَت

أُمورٌ وأَبناءٌ وَحالٌ تَقَلَّبَت

بِنا أَبطُنٌ يا أُمَّ عَمروٍ وأَظهُرا

بِنا أَبطُنٌ يا أُمَّ عَمروٍ وأَظهُرا

Affairs, sons, and shifting fortune have turned

Matters, children, and a state that changed for us;

Affairs, sons, and a state that has fluctuated,

us over—belly and back—O Umm Amr.

Inward and outward, O Umm Amr, they altered.

Turning us inside out and upside down, O Umm Amr.

أُصِبنا بِما لَو أَنَّ رَضوى أَصابَها

أُصِبنا بِما لَو أَنَّ رَضوى أَصابَها

لَسَهَّلَ مِن أَركانِها ما تَوعَّرا

لَسَهَّلَ مِن أَركانِها ما تَوعَّرا

We were struck by what, had it struck Radwa,

We were struck with what - had it struck those pleased -

We were struck by a calamity that, had it struck Mount Radwa,

would have leveled whatever was rugged in its flanks.

Would have smoothed what became rough of its pillars.

Would have leveled its rugged pillars to dust.

فَكَم وَجَدَت مَن آمنٍ فَهوَ خائِفٌ

فَكَم وَجَدَت مَن آمنٍ فَهوَ خائِفٌ

وَذي نِعمَةٍ مَعروفَةٍ فَتَنَكَّرا

وَذي نِعمَةٍ مَعروفَةٍ فَتَنَكَّرا

How many a secure man it has found, now afraid,

So how often did you find one who felt secure, and now is apprehensive?

How many secure ones did it find who became fearful,

and a man of acknowledged prosperity, changed beyond recognition!

And one with a known bounty, then he denied it?

And those of known blessing who became unrecognizable?

بِأَبيَضَ يُستَسقى الغَمامُ بِوَجهِهِ

بِأَبيَضَ يُستَسقى الغَمامُ بِوَجهِهِ

إِذا اختيرَ قالوا لَم يَقِل من تَخَيَّرا

إِذا اختيرَ قالوا لَم يَقِل من تَخَيَّرا

Through the loss of a radiant man, by whose face the clouds are asked for rain:

With the white-faced one, whose face is begged to bring rain,

Mourning a radiant one, by whose face rain is sought from the clouds,

when he was chosen, they said, 'His chooser had no regrets.'

When chosen, they say no less could have been chosen.

When chosen, they said: 'He who made the choice did not err.'

ثِمالِ اليَتامى يُبرِىءُ القَرحَ مَسُّهُ

ثِمالِ اليَتامى يُبرِىءُ القَرحَ مَسُّهُ

وَشَهمٍ إِذا سيمَ الدِنيَّةَ أَنكَرا

وَشَهمٍ إِذا سيمَ الدِنيَّةَ أَنكَرا

A refuge for orphans, whose touch heals wounds,

An orphan's rags that heal wounds when touched,

The refuge of orphans, whose touch heals the wound,

and a noble man who refused dishonor when subjected to it;

And a gallant who - when rags of dishonor clothe him - denies it.

A gallant spirit who, if offered lowliness, refuses indignantly.

صَبورٍ عَلى مَكروهِ ما يَجشِمُ الفَتى

صَبورٍ عَلى مَكروهِ ما يَجشِمُ الفَتى

وَمُرٍّ إِذا يُبغى المَرارَةُ مُمقِرا

وَمُرٍّ إِذا يُبغى المَرارَةُ مُمقِرا

patient under the hardships a young man must bear,

One patient with hated things that would vex a young man,

Patient over the hardships that a young man must bear,

and intensely bitter when bitterness was called for;

And bitter - when bitterness is sought - he admits it.

And bitter, when bitterness is required, to the utmost.

مِنَ الرافِعينَ الهَمَّ لِلذِكرِ والعُلى

مِنَ الرافِعينَ الهَمَّ لِلذِكرِ والعُلى

إِذا لَم يَنؤَ إِلا الكَريمُ ليُذكَرا

إِذا لَم يَنؤَ إِلا الكَريمُ ليُذكَرا

one of those who raise their ambition toward renown and eminence,

Among those who raise glory and ascendancy through mention,

Among those who raise their ambition for renown and glory,

when none but the noble rises to win remembrance;

When none persists except the generous in order to be mentioned.

When only the noble rises to be remembered.

وَريقٍ إِذا ما الخابِطونَ تَعالموا

وَريقٍ إِذا ما الخابِطونَ تَعالموا

مَكانَ بَقايا الخَيرِ أَن يَتأَثَّرا

مَكانَ بَقايا الخَيرِ أَن يَتأَثَّرا

and lush with bounty, when seekers told one another

And a comrade - when pretenders inquire -

And bountiful when the night-travelers signal to one another,

where remnants of goodness lay, to follow their traces.

Where goodness remains, in order to be affected by it.

Seeking the place where the remnants of goodness can be traced.

رُزينا فَلَم نَعثُر لِوَقعَتِهِ بِنا

رُزينا فَلَم نَعثُر لِوَقعَتِهِ بِنا

وَلَو كانَ مِن حَيٍّ سِوانا لأعثَرا

وَلَو كانَ مِن حَيٍّ سِوانا لأعثَرا

We were bereaved, yet did not stumble at the blow his loss dealt us;

We searched but did not stumble due to what befell us,

We were bereaved, yet we did not stumble from the blow,

had he belonged to a clan other than ours, his loss would have made them stumble.

And had he been alive like us, he would have stumbled upon it.

Though had it struck a tribe other than ours, they would have fallen.

وَما دَهرُنا أَلَّا يَكونَ أَصابَنا

وَما دَهرُنا أَلَّا يَكونَ أَصابَنا

بِثِقلٍ وَلكِنَّا رُزينا لِنَصبِرا

بِثِقلٍ وَلكِنَّا رُزينا لِنَصبِرا

Our lot was not to escape being struck

Our time never failed to burden us,

It is not that fate failed to strike us

by a heavy burden; we were bereaved so that we might endure.

But we were stoic in order to be patient.

With a heavy burden, but we were bereaved to prove our patience.

فَزالَ وَفينا حاضِروهُ فَلَم يَجِد

فَزالَ وَفينا حاضِروهُ فَلَم يَجِد

لِدَفعِ المَنايا حاضِرٌ مُتأَخَّرا

لِدَفعِ المَنايا حاضِرٌ مُتأَخَّرا

He passed away with his attendants among us; none could find

So he passed away while we were attending to him, but did not find

He departed while his spirit remained among us, so

a reprieve to ward off the decrees of death.

One late in coming to ward off destiny.

No present defender found a way to delay the decree of death.

كأَن لَم يَكُن مِنّا وَلَم نَستَعِن بِهِ

كأَن لَم يَكُن مِنّا وَلَم نَستَعِن بِهِ

عَلى نائباتِ الدَهرِ إِلّا تَذَكُّرا

عَلى نائباتِ الدَهرِ إِلّا تَذَكُّرا

As though he had never been one of us, and we had never sought his help

As if he had never been one of us and we did not seek aid through him

As if he had never been one of us, nor had we sought his aid

against the calamities of time—nothing but remembrance.

Against the strokes of fate, except by remembering him.

Against the calamities of time, except in memory.

وإِنّا عَلى غَمزِ المَنونِ قَناتَنا

وإِنّا عَلى غَمزِ المَنونِ قَناتَنا

وَجَدِّكَ حاموا فَرعِها أَن يُهَصَّرا

وَجَدِّكَ حاموا فَرعِها أَن يُهَصَّرا

And we, despite death's pressure on our spear-shaft,

We buttressed the stalks of our lives against the hints of death

Yet we, despite death's testing of our spear-shaft,

by your grandfather, guard its tip against being bent,

And your seriousness to protect its branches from being severed

—By your ancestor—protected its tip from being shattered.

بِجُرثومَةٍ في فَجوَةٍ حيلَ دونَها

بِجُرثومَةٍ في فَجوَةٍ حيلَ دونَها

سُيولُ الأَعادي خيفَةً أَن تَنَمَّرا

سُيولُ الأَعادي خيفَةً أَن تَنَمَّرا

with a root-stock in a hollow, fenced off from

By a handful in a crevice, we prevented

Rooted deep in a sanctuary, guarded against

the torrents of foes, for fear it might rage like a leopard.

The floods of enemies from fear of being ripped to shreds.

The torrents of enemies, lest they provoke a fierce wrath.

أَبى ذَمُّنا إِنّا إِذا قالَ قَومُنا

أَبى ذَمُّنا إِنّا إِذا قالَ قَومُنا

بِأَحسابِنا أَثنوا ثَناءً مُحَبَّرا

بِأَحسابِنا أَثنوا ثَناءً مُحَبَّرا

We defy reproach, for whenever our people speak

The dispraise of us refused - when our people

We refuse to be blamed; for when our people speak

of our ancestral honors, they offer richly embellished praise.

Speak of our reputations, they praise in embellished terms.

Of our lineage, they offer praise adorned and beautified.

وَإِنّا إِذا ما الناسُ جاءَت قُرومُهُم

وَإِنّا إِذا ما الناسُ جاءَت قُرومُهُم

أتينا بقرم يَفرَعُ الناسَ أَزهَرا

أتينا بقرم يَفرَعُ الناسَ أَزهَرا

And when people's chiefs come forward,

And we - when the tribes of people come -

And when the people bring forth their chiefs,

we bring a radiant chief who towers over them all.

Bring forth a tribe that makes the people blossom.

We bring a chief who towers above the people, radiant.

تَرى كُلَّ قَرمٍ يَتَّقيهِ مَخافَةً

تَرى كُلَّ قَرمٍ يَتَّقيهِ مَخافَةً

كَما تَتَّقي العُجمُ العَزيزَ المُسَوَّرا

كَما تَتَّقي العُجمُ العَزيزَ المُسَوَّرا

You see every chief keeping clear of him in fear,

You see every tribe fear it out of dread,

You see every leader avoiding him in fear,

as non-Arabs fear the mighty one adorned with bracelets.

As non-Arabs fear the mighty adorned king.

Just as the Persians fear the mighty, crowned king.

وَمُعضِلَةٍ يُدَعى لَها مَن يُزيلُها

وَمُعضِلَةٍ يُدَعى لَها مَن يُزيلُها

إِذا ذُكِرَت كانَت سَناءً وَمَفخَرا

إِذا ذُكِرَت كانَت سَناءً وَمَفخَرا

And many a difficult problem, for which a resolver is summoned,

And a dilemma none can resolve is presented,

And for a dilemma where a solver is summoned,

whose mention becomes a source of glory and pride,

So when mentioned it brings renown and pride.

Its mention becomes a source of brilliance and pride.

دَفَعتُ وَقَد عَيَّ الرِجالُ بِدَفعِها

دَفَعتُ وَقَد عَيَّ الرِجالُ بِدَفعِها

وأَصبَحَ مِني مِدرَهُ القَومِ أَوجَرا

وأَصبَحَ مِني مِدرَهُ القَومِ أَوجَرا

I repelled, though the men had been unable to repel it,

I repelled when men despaired of repelling it,

I repelled it when other men were weary of repelling it,

and the people's spokesman became afraid of me.

And the tribe's refuge from its distress became enervated.

And the spokesman of the people became awed by me.

أَخَذنا بِأَيدينا فَعادَ كَريهُها

أَخَذنا بِأَيدينا فَعادَ كَريهُها

مُخِفّاً وَمولىً قَد أَجَبنا لِنَنصُرا

مُخِفّاً وَمولىً قَد أَجَبنا لِنَنصُرا

We grasped it with our own hands, and its grievous burden became

We took it into our own hands, and its repulsiveness returned

We took matters into our hands, so the hateful burden returned

light; and an ally whose call we answered to give aid—

Submissively, and we had responded to defend an ally

Lightened; and a client we answered to support.

بِغَيرِ يَدٍ مِنهُ وَلا ظُلمِ ظالِمٍ

بِغَيرِ يَدٍ مِنهُ وَلا ظُلمِ ظالِمٍ

نَصَرناهُ لَمّا قامَ نَصراً مؤَزَرا

نَصَرناهُ لَمّا قامَ نَصراً مؤَزَرا

without any favor from him, and without an oppressor's wrongdoing—

Without his assistance or wronging by an oppressor;

Without a prior favor from him, nor to aid an oppressor,

we gave him staunch support when he stood forth.

We supported him when he stood supported.

We supported him when he rose, with strengthened aid.

فإِن نَنجُ مِن أَهوالِ ما خافَ قَومُنا

فإِن نَنجُ مِن أَهوالِ ما خافَ قَومُنا

عَلينا فإِنَّ اللَهَ ما شاءَ يَسَّرا

عَلينا فإِنَّ اللَهَ ما شاءَ يَسَّرا

If we escape the terrors our people feared

So if we survive the horrors our people feared upon us,

If we escape the terrors our people feared

for us, then God makes easy whatever He wills.

Then God has facilitated what He willed.

For us, it is because Allah facilitates what He wills.

فإِن غالَنا دَهرٌ فَقَد غالَ قَبلَنا

فإِن غالَنا دَهرٌ فَقَد غالَ قَبلَنا

مُلوكَ بَني نَصرٍ وَكِسرى وَقَيصَرا

مُلوكَ بَني نَصرٍ وَكِسرى وَقَيصَرا

But if time destroys us, it has destroyed before us

And if time overcomes us, it had overcome before us

But if time destroys us, it has destroyed before us

the kings of Banu Nasr, Kisra, and Caesar,

Kings of Bani Nasr, Kisra, and Caesar.

The kings of Bani Nasr, and Chosroes, and Caesar.

وآباؤنا ما نَحنُ إِلّا بَنوهُمُ

وآباؤنا ما نَحنُ إِلّا بَنوهُمُ

سَنَلقى الَّذي لاقوا حِماماً مُقَدَّرا

سَنَلقى الَّذي لاقوا حِماماً مُقَدَّرا

and our fathers—we are nothing but their sons.

Our forefathers - we are but their sons -

And our fathers—we are but their sons—

We shall meet what they met: an allotted death.

We will meet what they met, a destined annihilation.

We shall meet what they met: a destined death.

وَعَوراءَ مِن قَولِ امرىءٍ ذي قَرابَةٍ

وَعَوراءَ مِن قَولِ امرىءٍ ذي قَرابَةٍ

تَصامَمتُها وَلَو أَساءَ وَأَهجَرا

تَصامَمتُها وَلَو أَساءَ وَأَهجَرا

And many an ugly remark spoken by a kinsman

And covering the defects of a kinsman's words,

And a crooked word from a kinsman,

I pretended not to hear, though he offended and spoke obscenely,

Even if he did wrong and shunned relations.

I feigned deafness to it, though he offended and spoke ill.

كَرامَةَ حَيٍّ غيرَةً واصطِناعَةً

كَرامَةَ حَيٍّ غيرَةً واصطِناعَةً

لِدابِرَةٍ إِن دَهرُنا عادَ اَزوَرا

لِدابِرَةٍ إِن دَهرُنا عادَ اَزوَرا

to honor the clan, out of protective pride and to cultivate goodwill

Honoring a comrade out of zeal and patronage

To honor the tribe, out of jealousy and kindness,

against a future reversal, if our fortune turns hostile again.

For one brought low - our time has grown deceitful.

For the sake of kinship, should our fortune turn away.

وَذي نَيرَبٍ قَد عابَني لينالَني

وَذي نَيرَبٍ قَد عابَني لينالَني

فأَعبى مَداهُ عَن مَدايَ فأَقصَرا

فأَعبى مَداهُ عَن مَدايَ فأَقصَرا

And a malicious gossip who faulted me to injure me—

And one of small gifts who blamed me to reach me

And a slanderer who found fault to provoke me,

his reach fell short of mine, so he desisted.

So I made his extent fall short of my capacity.

His reach fell short of mine, so he desisted.

وَكَذَّبَ عَيبَ العائِبينَ سَماحَتي

وَكَذَّبَ عَيبَ العائِبينَ سَماحَتي

وَصَبري إِذا ما الأَمرُ عَضَّ فأَضجَرا

وَصَبري إِذا ما الأَمرُ عَضَّ فأَضجَرا

My generosity belied the fault-finders' blame,

And he denied the flaws of the criticizers, my tolerance,

My generosity gave the lie to the critics' blame,

and so did my patience when trouble bit hard and brought distress.

And my patience when the matter was frustrating and vexing.

And my patience when circumstances bite and distress.

وَإِني إِذا ما المَوتُ لَم يَكُ دونَهُ

وَإِني إِذا ما المَوتُ لَم يَكُ دونَهُ

مَدى الشِبرِ أَحمي الأَنفَ أَن أَتأَخَّرا

مَدى الشِبرِ أَحمي الأَنفَ أَن أَتأَخَّرا

And when death is so close that not even

I - when death is not beyond the span of a hand - protect my self-respect lest I delay.

And indeed, if death stands not within

a handspan remains, I guard my pride against retreat.

And a matter I seized like the hilt of a sword, I held to it

A hand's span, I protect my honor from retreating.

وَأَمرٍ كَنَصلِ السَيفِ صَلتاً حَذَوتُهُ

وَأَمرٍ كَنَصلِ السَيفِ صَلتاً حَذَوتُهُ

إِذا الأَمرُ أَعيى مَورِدَ الأَمرِ مَصدَرا

إِذا الأَمرُ أَعيى مَورِدَ الأَمرِ مَصدَرا

And many a task, like a naked sword blade, I have tackled,

When the affair wearied the course of affairs as a source.

And a matter sharp as a sword-edge I have handled,

when the affair left no clear path from its entrance to an exit.

If time treats me with enmity and strikes me

When the issue offered no easy entry or exit.

فإِن يَكُ دَهرٌ نابَني فأَصابَني

فإِن يَكُ دَهرٌ نابَني فأَصابَني

بِرَيبٍ فما تُشوي الحَوادِثُ مَعشَرا

بِرَيبٍ فما تُشوي الحَوادِثُ مَعشَرا

If time has assailed me and struck me

With doubt, affairs do not equate people.

So if time has afflicted me and struck me

with misfortune—for calamities do not merely graze a people—

So I am neither downcast by calamity nor

With calamity, misfortunes do not miss any company of men.

فَلا خاشِعٌ لِلنَّكبِ مِنهُ كآبَةً

فَلا خاشِعٌ لِلنَّكبِ مِنهُ كآبَةً

وَلا جازِعٌ إِن صَرفُ دَهرٍ تَغَيَّرا

وَلا جازِعٌ إِن صَرفُ دَهرٍ تَغَيَّرا

I am not bowed in sorrow by its blows,

Swayed if the turns of fate change.

I am not humbled by disaster into depression,

nor distraught if the turn of fortune changes.

And days have preserved in me a recollection

Nor panicking if the turns of fate alter.

وَقَد أَبقَتِ الأَيامُ مِنّي حَفيظَةً

وَقَد أَبقَتِ الأَيامُ مِنّي حَفيظَةً

عَلى جُلِّ ما لاقَيتُ وآسماً مُشَهَّرا

عَلى جُلِّ ما لاقَيتُ وآسماً مُشَهَّرا

The days have preserved in me a fierce sense of honor,

Of all I endured and a remembered glory.

The days have left within me a burning resolve,

despite most of what I endured, and a renowned name.

So I am not - when woes come - desperate,

Despite all I have met, and a mark renowned.

فَلَستُ إِذا الضَراءُ نابَت بِجُبّاً

فَلَستُ إِذا الضَراءُ نابَت بِجُبّاً

وَلا قصِفٍ إِن كانَ دَهرٌ تَنَكَّرا

وَلا قصِفٍ إِن كانَ دَهرٌ تَنَكَّرا

I am not a coward when adversity visits,

Nor dejected if time grew estranged.

I am not, when hardship strikes, a coward,

nor brittle if time turns hostile.

Nor brittle if time turns its face against me.