أخُطَافةٌ في يدي أم جَلَم

أمِ الرّقِّ يُحنى لشقِّ القَلِم

A pen in my hand or an inkwell,

Or a quiver that bends to split the nib.

هُما أخوانِ هُما توأمانِ

على قَدَرِ واحدٍ في الشَّيَم

They are two brothers, they are twins,

Equal in one measure of reputation.

وقد جَعلَ القَينُ بينهُما

صُدوداً ووصلاً لمن قد فَهِم

Fate has set between them

Barriers and connections for whom understands.

إذا فَغَرا حكَيا أيَّما

منَ الرُّقشِ فاغرةٌ تلتقِم

When they gape, whichever it may be

Of the quills gapes, grasping.

مقصٌ كانّ سهامَ العُيو

نِ أطرافها في يَدَي مُخترِم

Scissors were arrows of the writers

Their edges in hands of one experienced.

تُصوِّر لي في يَدَي من أُحبُّ

لا لا إذا ما سألتُ نَعم

They depict for me in hands of whom I love

No, no, if I were to ask. Yes.