1. People see me as a talented poet, yet
When I present it, I see no value in poetry

2. May God make my breath pleasant when I exhale
It is enough that they inhale without paying a dime

3. And I extinguish the fire in their livers while I
By God, have a liver burning with fire

4. And I take away the passion from the heart of those in love, yet I have
A heart in which lies passion fulfilling the desire of the reproacher

5. I am the lute and the lover made joyous
By hearing the groans of my ribs and strings

6. O people of Lebanon, no living thing thrives on your slopes
When it dies wronged and cheerless

7. Nor does cattle graze as spoils in your pastures
Except in the shade of a tent, far from home

8. I displayed my soul in your market and it languished
There though it was none other than my poetry