1. كُنتُ في رُكن من الأَر

    ضِ على مِقدار فَهمي

    I was in a corner of the ear—

    —th, as far as my understanding reached.

  2. مُفرداً فيه مُخَلّىً

    فارغاً من كل خَصم

    Alone there, left to myself,

    free of every adversary.

  3. فدعَوا بي ثم قالوا

    علمٌ في كل عِلم

    Then they sent for me and said,

    “Teach in every field of knowledge.”

  4. عَرَّضوني لِلبَلايا

    أَتَلَقّى كلَّ سَهم

    They exposed me to afflictions;

    I receive every arrow.

  5. يا لقومي أَتبعوا في

    قَصدهم روحي وَجِسمي

    Alas for my people! They pursued, in

    their designs, my soul and my body.