خَرَجتُ مُبَكِّراً مِن سُرَّ مَن را

خَرَجتُ مُبَكِّراً مِن سُرَّ مَن را

أُبادِرُ حاجَةً فَإِذا عُمَيرُ

أُبادِرُ حاجَةً فَإِذا عُمَيرُ

I set out early from Samarra,

I set out early, to fulfill a need, from the home of one I hold dear

hurrying on an errand—when suddenly, Umayr!

When lo, it was Omayr!

فَلَم أَثنِ العِنانَ وَقُلتُ أَمضي

فَلَم أَثنِ العِنانَ وَقُلتُ أَمضي

فَوَجهُكَ يا عُمَيرُ خِرا وَخَيرُ

فَوَجهُكَ يا عُمَيرُ خِرا وَخَيرُ

So I did not turn the reins, and said, “I shall go on,

So I did not turn back my camel's rein, but said: Onward!

for your face, O Umayr, is dung—and good fortune.”

For thy face, O Omayr, is virtue and good cheer