1. إِذا قيلَ لَكَ اِخشَ اللَ

    هَ مَولاكَ فَقُل آرا

    If you are told, “Fear God,

    your Lord,” then say, “Yes.”

  2. كَأَنَّ الأَنجُمَ السَب

    عَةَ في لُعبَةٍ بُقّارا

    As though the seven stars

    in a game of buqqārā were

  3. خُزامى وَأَقاحِيُّ

    وَصَفراءُ وَشُقّارا

    lavender and daisies,

    yellow flowers and red anemones.

  4. وَمَن فَوقَ الثَرى يَص

    غُرُ في أَجزاءِ مَن وارى

    And whoever is above the soil grows

    small amid the remains of those he has buried.

  5. وَأَصبَحتُ مَعَ الدُنِّيا

    أُداريها كَمَن دارى

    And now, with the world,

    I humor her as others have.

  6. إِذا بارَأَها قَومٌ

    فَقَلبي حُبُّها بارى

    If some folk have parted from her,

    then love of her has parted from my heart.

  7. وَما يُرهِبُني جارِ

    يَ إِن ناضَلَ أَو جارى

    And my neighbor does not frighten me,

    if he competes at archery or racing.

  8. وَما عِرسِيَ حَوراءُ

    وَلا خُبزِيَ حَوّارى

    And my wife is no dark-eyed beauty,

    nor is my bread made from fine white flour.