1. أَحمَدُ اللَهَ لَم أَقُل قَطُّ يا بد

    رُ وَيا مُنصِفاً وَيا كافورُ

    I thank God: never have I said, “O Bad-

    r, and O Munsif, and O Kafur!”

  2. لا وَلا قُلتُ أَينَ أَينَ الشَواهي

    نُ وَوَزّانُنا وَأَينَ البُذورُ

    No, nor have I said, “Where, where are the fal-

    cons, and our weigher—and where are the seeds?”

  3. لا وَلا قيلَ قَد أَتاكَ مِنَ الضَ

    يعَةِ بُرٌّ مُوَفَّرٌ وَشَعيرُ

    No, nor was I told, “There has come to you from the es-

    tate wheat in plenty, and barley;

  4. وَأَتاكَ العَطاءُ بِالنَدِّ لَمّا

    قيلَ لي ذاكَ في الخَزينِ بَخورُ

    and your stipend has come in fragrant incense,” when

    I was told, “That in the storehouse is incense.”

  5. أَنا خِلوٌ مِنَ المَماليكِ وَالأَم

    لاكِ جَلدٌ عَلى البَلا وَصَبورُ

    I am free of slaves and prop-

    erty, hardy in adversity and patient.

  6. لَيسَ إِلّا كُسَيرَةٌ وَقُدَيحٌ وَخُ

    لَيقٌ أَتَت عَلَيهِ الدُهورُ

    There is only a little crust, a little cup, and a worn little gar-

    ment over which the ages have passed.