كانت بدايتها ختام زعيم

ونهاية الإجلال والتكريم

His beginning was the end of a leader

And the finale of veneration and esteem

من كان رمز كفاحنا وفخارنا

أمسى أثيما بل وايّ أثيم

He who was the symbol of our struggle and pride

Became dishonored, how dishonored!

قالوا تخلّص من مديحك أمسه

هيهات لست وإن هوى بلئيم

They said: discard your praise of his name

Never! Even if he is undone

ماضيه ماضي أمتي فأمانتي

وكرامتي ذكراه بالتعظيم

His past is my nation's past so my trust

And dignity is to remember him with respect

والآن أذرف مدمعي لرثائه

حيّا فما ألقاه غير رميم

And now I shed tears in eulogizing him

Alive, he faced nothing but the vile

وأعاف ذكر زنيمة غالى بها

فهوى من العلياء أيّ زنيم

I pardon the memory of the valuable one who erred

And fell from the highest, what a fall!