1. When I took charge of affairs and it darkened
In my eyes, my resources and sources, 
١. لما تولَّيْتُ الأُمورَ وأظلَمَتْ
 في ناظِرَيَّ موارِدي ومصادِري
2. And I despaired of those whose favor I sought  
And counted them as headlines of my treasures, 
٢. ويَئستُ مِمَّن كنتُ أرجو فضلَهُ
 وأُعِدُّهُ عنوانَ صُحفِ ذخائري
3. And I knew that I had wasted my talents  
And placed them in ungrateful hands, 
٣. وعلمتُ أنَّي قد أضعْتُ صنائعي
 ووضعْتُها في غَيرِ حُرٍّ شاكِرِ