يجاذبُني شوُق الدّيار وغُربتي

يجاذبُني شوُق الدّيار وغُربتي

تُخلّصني من راحتيه وتحبسُ

تُخلّصني من راحتيه وتحبسُ

Longing for home tugs at me, while my exile

Yearning for home and exile contend within me,

frees me from longing’s two palms, yet holds me captive.

Freeing me from comfort, holding me captive.

ومن عجب أنّي مُقيمٌ ببلدة

ومن عجب أنّي مُقيمٌ ببلدة

تزايدُ فيها وحشتي وهي تُونسُ

تزايدُ فيها وحشتي وهي تُونسُ

And it is strange that I dwell in a town

Strange that I live in a city which increases

where my loneliness grows, though it is Tunis.

My desolation, though it is called “Delight.”