لهفَ نفسي والمنايا تلتظى
ما لجمراتِ المنايا من خمودِ
My soul burns with yearning, and death's fires blaze,
No respite for death's embers that glow and raise,
صهرتها وهي كالغيم ندى
في لظى الحسرة أبناء الصعيد
Melted by tears, like the dew's morning haze,
The Sa'id's children in grief's flame ablaze,
معشر كانوا كأزهار الربا
رضعوا في المهد من أثداء جود
A clan who once bloomed like the meadow's flowers,
Suckled on generosity's milk in life's hours,
دهم الموت عليهم دورهم
وأراهم بطش جبار عنيد
Death swooped down on them in fury and power,
An obstinate tyrant with pitiless glower,
شرعَ المنجلَ في راحاتهِ
وانبرى يعصف بالنبتِ الحصيد
The sickle was raised and cut down each flower,
Destroying the harvest in that evil hour,
كم فتاة هدهَدَت آمالها
وفتى عاش على حلم سعيد
How many a maiden's hopes were dashed,
How many youths from sweet dreams were lashed,
وعروسٍ كُفّنت في ثوبها
وعريس أدرجوه في البرود
How many brides in their gowns were cached,
How many grooms to the grave were dispatched,
نصب الموت لهم أشراكه
ودهاهم من قريب أو بعيد
Death had set up his traps far and wide,
No difference between old man and child bride,
لم يفرق بين شيخ هرم
ورضيع في حمى المهد وليد
Between the starving, death-seeking ill,
And the naked wanderer, lost and chilled,
فهم بين مريض جائع
يطلب الموت وعريان شريد
And wished him promises, dreams beguiled,
Whenever his eyes were heavy with sleep,
فهنا أم تناغى طفلها
وتمنيه بخلّاب الوعود
She feared his journey into the abyss deep,
And when he sought her breast, she would bend
كلما راود جفنيه الكرى
أشفقت من سفر فيه مديد
And plead to God, the Mighty Friend,
Fever makes his cheeks quiver and seep,
وإذا تاق إلى الثدى انحنت
فوقه تضرع للَه المجيد
No cradle is near, though the babe doth weep,
She witnesses his pain throughout the night
ترعش الحمى حناياه فلا
تجد المهد وأنّى بالمهود
And the earth is watered with tears moonlit,
But when dawn comes with hope in its light,
تشهد الليل على آلامها
وتروّى الأرض بالدمع النضيد
For the weary refugee, a hint of respite,
Death comes, and with its coming blight,
فإذا ما أقبل الصبح وفي
نوره أمنيةُ العاني الطريد
Hopes for life are shattered in sad defeat,
In her shock, she collapses like dead meat,
أقبل الموت وفي إقباله
تدبر الآمال من عيش الفقيد
Bearing her child to his final retreat,
On her, the demons of grief swirl and sweep,
فترى من هولها مصروعة
تحمل الطفل إلى القبر الجديد
Dancing on shards of ice that make her freeze,
Her steps are shackled, a prisoner with no keys,
وعليها من تهاويل الأسى
مسحة ترقص أحشاء الجليد
On the hillsides, death plays his masterpiece,
A drunken melody's destructive unease,
خبّلت أقدامها في خطوها
فهي تمشي كأسير في قيود
No pleadings deter his arrows' release,
My brothers in God, faith and nation,
في سفوح يعزف الموت بها
لحنه المخمور من عصف الرعود
Who've suffered the worst tribulation,
In God lies richness of spirit and mind,
ويحه ما حطمت أسهمه
دعوات الثكل من قبل ثمود
Beyond my words, efforts, or any mankind,
If my soul itself I don't surrender,
إخوتي في اللَه والدين وفي
وطن عان من الخطب جهيد
As price for protecting kith and kin tender,
Egypt's hope in my heart will always burn,
لكم اللَه وفي اللَه غنىً
عن بياني ولساني وجهودي
Despite time's hardships and life's blunt spurn.
أنا إن لم أبذل الروح لم
وأفدى بطريفي وتليدي
لا رَعَت مصر لقلبي أملاً
ورماني الدهر البرزء الشديد
