1. The nations hastened forth running ahead
And no laggard people has any excuse

2. My homeland, all the peoples on earth
Are sent to run towards a goal

3. My homeland, the poor man is in hardship
My homeland, the strong man is at ease

4. My homeland, privation alone
If basic needs bite and break the back

5. My homeland, no peace for a nation
If it does not rely on a strong army

6. The people are sold and bought in the market
At paltry prices, and the people do not know

7. The intended good is not what they want
Rather the aim is evil, and more than evil

8. And harder than the heavy chains of iron
On a man are shackles heavy on the mind

9. The West raced to every goal
So why has the East ceased to run?

10. And I in my world am but a swimmer
Battling waves in a sea's turbulence

11. Indeed a vision of Laila kept me company
Cheek to cheek, and breast to breast

12. And her body when it held me close
Was like embers, or hotter than embers

13. And nearly burnt my inner being with her fire
My heart and all it contains, my bones and flesh

14. She tormented me until I complained of her embrace
As if union was worse than separation

15. But when we awoke her vision had vanished
And nothing of it remained except the memory