لَعَمرُكَ إنِّي والظَليمُ بقَفرَةٍ

لَمُشتَبِها الأَهواءِ مُختلِفا النَّجرِ

By your life! Though I and the oppressor are in a barren land,

With differing passions, confused inclinations.

خليلاً صَفاء بعد طول عداوةٍ

ألا يا لتقليبِ القُلُوب وللدَّهرِ

After long enmity, a friend of pure heart,

Oh! How hearts fluctuate! And how fate does confer!

لَعَمري لشخصُ الذيب والذِّيبُ جاهِدٌ

عليَّ وشَخصُ الغولِ في البَلَدِ القَفرِ

By my life! The wolf's person and the wolf are struggling,

Against me, and the ghoul's person in the barren land.

أَحَبُّ إلى قلبي من الإنس طلَعَةً

ولو حدثوني بالغنيمةِ والأَجرِ

More beloved to my heart than mankind at dawn,

Even if they speak to me of spoils and rewards.