أقول لسائق الأظعان رفقا

أقول لسائق الأظعان رفقا

بنفس للصبابة في السياق

بنفس للصبابة في السياق

I say to the driver of the camel litters: be gentle

I say to the driver of sorrows, gently,

With a soul in its death throes from yearning.

With the soul of youth in the journey.

فما نبهت جفنا من رقاد

فما نبهت جفنا من رقاد

ولا أطلقت دمعا من وثاق

ولا أطلقت دمعا من وثاق

For you have not roused an eyelid from slumber,

My eyelids were not awakened from slumber,

Nor released a tear from bondage.

Nor a tear released from anguish.

وكيف ولم يزل كلفي ودمعي

وكيف ولم يزل كلفي ودمعي

بهم قبل الجوانح والمآقي

بهم قبل الجوانح والمآقي

And how could you, when my passion and my tears have never ceased,

How could it be when my love and my tears

For them, since before my ribs and the corners of my eyes existed?

Still reside in my heart and sorrows before?

فتى الكتاب من ناء ودان

فتى الكتاب من ناء ودان

إذا عدوا ومن ماض وباقي

إذا عدوا ومن ماض وباقي

O champion of scribes, far and near,

The youth of the book, from its essence and base

When they are counted, both past and present:

Whether first or last, all that remains.

سبقتهم اختصارا في تمام

سبقتهم اختصارا في تمام

وفتهم نظاما في السباق

وفتهم نظاما في السباق

You surpassed them in concision without sacrificing completeness,

I surpassed them, summarizing completely

And outstripped them in composition in the race.

And instructed them, organizing the course.

فإن أضحى غبارك كحل قوم

فإن أضحى غبارك كحل قوم

فحظ الهجن ذاك من العتاق

فحظ الهجن ذاك من العتاق

So if your dust has become kohl for some,

If your dust brings enlightenment to a people,

Then that is the crossbred steeds' share from the thoroughbreds.

Then the reward of the free is that freedom.