لَو كُنتَ حُرّاً يَومَ أَعيَنَ لَم تَنَم

لَو كُنتَ حُرّاً يَومَ أَعيَنَ لَم تَنَم

وَذَحلُكَ مَطلوبٌ وَثَأرُكَ سالِمُ

وَذَحلُكَ مَطلوبٌ وَثَأرُكَ سالِمُ

Had you been freeborn on the day of Aʿyan, you would not have slept,

Had you been free when eyes could not sleep,

While your blood-debt awaits redress and your blood-enemy is unharmed.

And your enemies sought you while peace was upon your vengeance,

تَنامُ وَما زالَت قُيونُ مُجاشِعٍ

تَنامُ وَما زالَت قُيونُ مُجاشِعٍ

عَنِ الوِترِ نُوّاماً وَأَنفُكَ راغِمُ

عَنِ الوِترِ نُوّاماً وَأَنفُكَ راغِمُ

You sleep, and the smiths of Mujashiʿ remain

You would sleep while the bows of the night visitors

Asleep, heedless of vengeance, while your nose is rubbed in the dust.

Were taut against the midnights and your enemies subdued.

وَلا يُدرِكُ الوِترَ المُراهِقَ فَوتُهُ

وَلا يُدرِكُ الوِترَ المُراهِقَ فَوتُهُ

ضَجيعُ الهُوَينا المُطرِقُ المُتَناوِمُ

ضَجيعُ الهُوَينا المُطرِقُ المُتَناوِمُ

Nor is vengeance, on the verge of slipping away, attained

But the growing lad will not attain midnights he misses,

By indolence’s bedfellow, head bowed and feigning sleep.

The sleeper in the dust, the dormant, the slumberer.

فَهَلّا كَفِعلِ المازِنِيِّ بنِ أَخضَرٍ

فَهَلّا كَفِعلِ المازِنِيِّ بنِ أَخضَرٍ

فَعَلتَ وَمَن يَصدُق تَهَبهُ المَظالِمُ

فَعَلتَ وَمَن يَصدُق تَهَبهُ المَظالِمُ

Why, then, after the example of al-Mazini, son of Akhdar,

Why then, unlike Muzaini bin Ukhdhar,

Did you not act? Wrongs fear whoever stands firm.

Act not, when the oppressors belie your gift of rest?