1. أيها السيد الذي طاب في المج

    د فروعاً كريمة وأصولا

    O master, who excels in glory,

    with noble branches and roots:

  2. لو مشى بي الشيخ الفرق لسابقت

    ك سيراً إلى الوداع ذميلاً

    Had the timid old fellow carried me, I would have raced

    you to the farewell at an easy trot.

  3. فتجاوزت خانقين وخلف

    ت ورائي على الطريق جلولا

    Then I would have passed beyond Khanaqin and left

    Jalula behind me along the road.

  4. لكن لاشيخ كان جذعاً من الخي

    ل طرياً فصار جذعاً طويلاً

    But the old fellow had been a young horse,

    fresh and tender, then became a long log.

  5. كلما سار سال دمع مآقي

    ه ومن حق دمعه أن يسيلا

    Whenever he walked, tears streamed from the corners

    of his eyes—and his tears had every right to flow.

  6. مستغيثاً يصيح تحتي ضراطاً

    مزوجاً في طريقه وصهيلاً

    Seeking help, he cries beneath me in farts,

    mingling them along his way with neighs.

  7. أبصر القت وهو يجري فغنى

    بعد ما كاد عقله أن يزولا

    He saw the dried alfalfa as he ran, and sang,

    after his reason had almost deserted him:

  8. أزجر العين أن تبكي الطلولا

    إن في القلب من كليبٍ غليلا

    “I restrain my eye from weeping over the ruined camps;

    for in my heart is burning anguish for Kulayb.”