1. هذِهِ الدُنيا سَآمَه

    تَعبٌ فيها الإِقامَة

    This world is weariness.

    Dwelling in it is toil.

  2. جَحد العاتي فَلَمّا

    يُبقِ لي فيها كَرامَه

    The tyrant was ungrateful, and has not yet

    left me any dignity in it.

  3. لَيسَ عَن ضُعفٍ قُعودي

    عَنهُ لكِن عَن شَهامَه

    It is not from weakness that I hold back

    from him, but from magnanimity.

  4. ليَ نَفسٌ عَلَّمَتني

    كَيفَ أَستَزري لِئامَه

    I have a soul that taught me

    how to scorn his base men.

  5. ليَ آدابٌ أَراها

    فَوقَ خَدّ العِلمِ شامَه

    I have manners that I see

    as a beauty mark upon learning's cheek,

  6. وَيراعٌ يَتَمَنّى ال

    فَجرُ لَو كانَ اِبتِسامَه

    and a pen that the

    dawn wishes were a smile.

  7. يُعرَفُ النَذلُ وَلَو حَطَّ

    عَلى الرَأسِ عَمامَه

    The scoundrel is recognized, even if he sets

    a turban upon his head.

  8. كُلُّ نَذلٍ مُستَبَدٍّ

    في مُحَيّاهُ عَلامَه

    Every despotic scoundrel

    has a mark upon his face.

  9. لَم أُحارِبهُ بِسَيف

    بَل بِصِدقٍ وَاِستِقامَه

    I did not fight him with a sword,

    but with truthfulness and uprightness.

  10. إِن أُفَضِّل صفعَه بِال

    نَعلِ أَنصِفه مُقامَه

    If I prefer a slap with the

    shoe, I do justice to his station.