1. وَرُبَّ يَومٍ صَقيلِ الوَجهِ تَحسَبُهُ

    مُرَصَّعاً بِجِباهِ الخُرَّدِ العينِ

    And many a bright-faced day you would deem

    Studded with the foreheads of shy, wide-eyed maidens.

  2. أَتاكَ يَقتادُ عيداً في حَقائِبِهِ

    زادَ السُرورِ عَلى الطَيرِ المَيامينِ

    It came to you leading a feast, bearing in its saddlebags

    Provisions of joy upon birds of good omen.

  3. فَاِلبَس جَلابيبَهُ البيضَ الَّتي شَرُفَت

    وَاِخرُج عَنِ الصَومِ مِن أَثوابِهِ الجَونِ

    So don its white robes, which have gained honor,

    And emerge from the fast, out of its black garments.

  4. إِلَيكَ يَستَنُّ وَالأَحشاءُ يَتبَعُها

    عَن غَربِ فِكرٍ بِغَربِ الشَوقِ مَقرونِ

    Toward you it gallops, following the heart’s depths,

    From thought’s keen edge, coupled with longing’s keen edge.

  5. جاءَت تُهَنّيكَ بِالوُدِّ الَّذي عَلِقَت

    مِنّا الضَمائِرُ لا يَومِ الشَعانينِ

    They came to congratulate you out of the love to which

    Our hearts have clung—not for Palm Sunday.