يا أيها العائبُ من فوقهُ

يا أيها العائبُ من فوقهُ

انظرْ إلى النجم فهلْ ينظركْ

انظرْ إلى النجم فهلْ ينظركْ

O you who find fault with those above you,

O you who reproach from on high

Look at the star—does it look at you?

Look to the stars, do they look back?

اظمأتَ أقلامكَ فاضربْ بها

اظمأتَ أقلامكَ فاضربْ بها

حوافلَ المزنِ عسى تمطرُكْ

حوافلَ المزنِ عسى تمطرُكْ

You have made your pens thirsty; so strike with them

You've parched your pens, so strike with them

The water-laden rain clouds—perhaps they will rain on you.

The rabble's hordes, perhaps they'll wet you

وجئتنا بالحلو فيما ترى

وجئتنا بالحلو فيما ترى

فكانَ ملحاً عندنا سُكَّركْ

فكانَ ملحاً عندنا سُكَّركْ

And you brought us what you consider sweet,

You've brought us sweetness, so you think

Yet to us your sugar was salt.

To us it's been but vinegar and sugar

وقلتَ لفظي جوهرٌ نيرٌ

وقلتَ لفظي جوهرٌ نيرٌ

وعندنا أنَّ الحصى جوهركْ

وعندنا أنَّ الحصى جوهركْ

And you said, “My words are a radiant gem”;

You've said your words are purest pearls

But to us, your gem is gravel.

To us mere pebbles are your treasures

فقلْ لمن يقذفُ مشارهُ

فقلْ لمن يقذفُ مشارهُ

في الجوِّ مهلاً ربما ينشركْ

في الجوِّ مهلاً ربما ينشركْ

So tell whoever hurls his saw

So say to those who fling their spears

Into the air: “Careful—it may saw you apart.”

Skyward - pause, just pause, lest you be scattered