1. يا أيها الفلك الذي

    روعاته في كل ساعه

    O celestial sphere, whose

    terrors come with every hour,

  2. طلعت نحوسك بالبشاعه

    فجلست في ظل القناعه

    your baleful stars rose hideously,

    so I sat in the shade of contentment.

  3. وتركت أبواب الملو

    ك لما رأيت من الوضاعه

    And I left the doors of kings,

    because of the humiliation I had seen.

  4. بعد التوسّل والتردد

    والترسّل والشفاعه

    After pleading and repeated visits,

    and correspondence and intercession,

  5. أبلى بردّ فاحش

    تأبى مسامعيَ استماعه

    I am afflicted with a foul rebuff

    that my ears refuse to hear.

  6. يا جاريا بمكارهي

    لا تستطيعُ يدي دفاعه

    O you who run your course with what I loathe,

    my hand cannot ward it off.

  7. عجبي بصرفك في الغنى

    والفقر بل عجب الجماعه

    I marvel at your dealings in wealth

    and poverty—rather, everyone marvels.

  8. بلغت وغدا ساقطا

    فوق المنى سمعا وطاعه

    You raised a base, contemptible wretch

    beyond all hopes—“I hear and obey.”

  9. وقصدت حرّا فاضلا

    ملك الفصاحة والبراعه

    And you targeted a noble, virtuous man

    who mastered eloquence and brilliance.

  10. هذا عدوّك تزدري

    ه وذا أخوك من الرضاعه

    This one is your enemy: you scorn

    him, and that one is your milk-brother.

  11. يا ماضيا بطباعه

    عتبي عليك من الرقاعه

    O you who go on according to your nature,

    my reproach of you is foolishness.