1. What did we endure in Magoos at night
Of the clamor of guards and police?
١. مَاذَا لَقينَا بِمَاغُوسٍ مِنَ اللَّغَطِ
لَيْلاً وَمِنْ هَرَج الأَحْرَاسِ وَالشُّرِطِ
2. Of foul water not fit for us to drink
Except by overindulging to excess
٢. وَمِنْ رَدَاءَةِ مَاءٍ لاَ يَسُوغُ لَنَا
شَرَابُ جُرْعَتِهِ إِلاَّ عَلَى شَطَطِ
3. Languages surrounding us, garbled
As though we were in the lands of Zanj and Nabat
٣. وَمِنْ لُغَاتٍ حَوَالَيْنَا مُبَرْبَرَةٍ
كَأَنَّنَا فِي بِلاَدِ الزَّنْجِ وَالنَّبَطِ
4. Barren, no trees for shade
No friend to refresh the weary soul
٤. جَرْدَاءُ لاَ شَجَرَاتٌ يُسْتَظَلُّ بِهَا
وَلاَ أَنِيسٌ يُرِيحُ النَّفْسَ مِن قَنَطِ
5. Its minaret, the builder placed crookedly
No cheerful eye gestures towards it
٥. مَنَارُها قَعَدَ الْبَانِي بِنِصْبَتِهِ
فَلاَ تُشِيرُ إِلَيْهِ عَيْنُ مُغْتَبِطِ
6. As if it were a rag-doll they came to strip
Of its clothing, taking half away erroneously
٦. كَأَنَّهُ فَيْشَةٌ جَاءُوا لِقُلْفَتِهَا
بِخَاتِنٍ قَطَّ مِنْهَا النِّصْفَ عَنْ غَلَطِ
7. But the eminent scribes of conditions therein
Revived the finest young man strictly principled
٧. لَكِنَّ فَاضِلَ كُتَّابِ الشُّرُوُطِ بِهَا
يَحْيَ أَبَرَّ فَتَىً لِلْفَضْلِ مُشْتَرِطٍ
8. Yahya revived companionship after its desolation
And substituted for all of that flawed pattern
٨. أَحْيَى بِهَا الأُنْسَ يَحْيَى بَعْدَ وَحْشِتَهَا
وَنَابَ عَنْ جُمْلَةٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ النَّمَطِ