يا وَجهَ مَن لا يُرتَجى نَيلُهُ

يا وَجهَ مَن لا يُرتَجى نَيلُهُ

وَلَستُ بِالآمِنِ مِن ضَيرِهِ

وَلَستُ بِالآمِنِ مِن ضَيرِهِ

O face of one whose bounty is not to be hoped for,

O face of one I cannot hope to attain

And I am not safe from his harm.

And am not safe from his disdain

كَأَنَّهُ القِردُ إِذا ما مَشى

كَأَنَّهُ القِردُ إِذا ما مَشى

يَعتُلُهُ القَرّادُ في سَيرِهِ

يَعتُلُهُ القَرّادُ في سَيرِهِ

He is like a monkey when he walks,

As though he were the ape who walked upright

The monkey-handler drags him roughly along as he goes.

With boys pursuing, jeering spite