1. شِم سَيفَك إِن أَرَدتَ خَفقَ العَلَمِ

    لا تَبغِ مِن اليَراع خَوضَ الظُلَمِ

    Draw your sword if you wish the banner to flutter.

    Do not ask the reed pen to plunge into darkness.

  2. كَم وُرِّدَ لِلظُبى خُدودٌ ضَحِكَت

    تَستَهزئُ مِن سَوادِ وَجهِ القَلَمِ

    How many cheeks were reddened for the sword-edges and laughed,

    Mocking the blackness of the pen's face.