شياهٌ ترجى اخضرارا الجدوب

لتسمن للذئب لا للحياه

A shepherd hopes for greenness in the barren land

To fatten the wolf, not for life

تنام على الشوك حتى إذا

نما الوردُ كان دخاناً شذاه

He sleeps on thorns until, when

The roses bloomed, it became fragrant smoke

وراع طوت نايه السافيات

وغاب بجوف الروابي صداه

A shepherd folded his flute of yearnings

And its echo was lost in the depths of the hills

ينوح نواح الغريب الطليح

إذا أذكرته الليالي هواه

He moans the moans of a lonely stranger

When the nights remind him of his love

ويذرى المدامع هتّانة

فيرمض بالنار قلب الفلاه

And sheds copious tears

So his heart burns with the fire of desolation

وللذئب من حوله شرّةٌ

تصول إذا ما وهى جانباه

And the wolf has around him a pack

That attacks when he turns his side

يرى الراعى الغر يبكي مناه

وينسى الرعيل وينسى عصاه

The lonely shepherd sees him crying because of his plight

And forgets about his flock and his staff

فيشرع من ناظريه المدى

ليقطع عنها سبيل النجاه

So he opens his eyes to the horizon

To cut off from it the way of salvation

وإن أيقظ الذئب صوت الدماء

فلا ترتقب غير نوم الرعاه

And if the blood's voice awakens the wolf

Do not expect anything but the sleep of the shepherds