1. ليتديواني يكون له

    من بديع الزهر تيجان

    Would that my book of poems had

    Crowns of exquisite flowers,

  2. فكأن الشعر في جدث

    فوقه وردٌ وريحان

    As though the poetry lay in a grave,

    With roses and sweet basil above it.

  3. يا لها من حفرة عجب

    كل ما تطويه أشجان

    Oh, what a wondrous pit!

    All that it enfolds is sorrow.

  4. كل بيتٍ في قرارته

    جثةٌ خرساء مرنان

    Every verse within its depths

    Is a mute yet resounding corpse,

  5. خارجاً من قل قائله

    مثل ما يزفر بركان

    Coming forth from its speaker’s [heart],

    Like what a volcano exhales.