يقول لي امرؤ كتَّاب مصر

يقول لي امرؤ كتَّاب مصر

بأخبارٍ لها وقت منيف

بأخبارٍ لها وقت منيف

A man among Egypt’s scribes says to me,

A scribe from Egypt said to me,

with tidings whose hour is exalted:

With news that took its time refined,

فهل عجز احْتيالك أن تهيئ

فهل عجز احْتيالك أن تهيئ

لهم خبزاً فقلت ولا رغيف

لهم خبزاً فقلت ولا رغيف

“So has your resourcefulness failed to prepare

“Can you not manage to provide

bread for them?” I said, “Not even a loaf.”

For them some bread?” I said, “Not even a loaf.”