وَعَميمَةٌ قَد سُقتُ فيها عائِراً

وَعَميمَةٌ قَد سُقتُ فيها عائِراً

غُفلاً وَمِنها عائِرٌ مَوسومُ

غُفلاً وَمِنها عائِرٌ مَوسومُ

And in a sweeping poem I sent forth a stray shaft,

A vast wilderness through which I wandered astray

Unmarked, while another shaft from it bore a mark.

Unaware, though its paths are mapped and known

طَبَّقتُ مِفصَلَها بِغَيرِ حَديدَةٍ

طَبَّقتُ مِفصَلَها بِغَيرِ حَديدَةٍ

فَرأى العَدوُّ غَناي حَيثُ أَقومُ

فَرأى العَدوُّ غَناي حَيثُ أَقومُ

I struck its joint squarely without an iron blade,

I pieced its parts without need of a compass

So the enemy saw my prowess where I stand.

And so my foe saw my wealth wherever I roam