يَمامَةٌ كانَت بِأَعلى الشَجَرَه

آمِنَةً في عُشِّها مُستَتِرَه

The dove was at the top of the tree

Feeling safe in her hidden nest

فَأَقبَلَ الصَيّادُ ذاتَ يَومِ

وَحامَ حَولَ الرَوضِ أَيَّ حَومِ

Then came the hunter one day

And hovered around the meadow, prowling

فَلَم يَجِد لِلطَيرِ فيهِ ظِلّاً

وَهَمَّ بِالرَحيلِ حينَ مَلّا

He could not find shade for the bird there

So he thought of leaving, tired of searching

فَبَرَزَت مِن عُشِّها الحَمقاءُ

وَالحُمقُ داءٌ ما لَهُ دَواءُ

But the foolish one came out of her nest

And foolishness is an illness with no cure

تَقولُ جَهلاً بِالَّذي سَيَحدُثُ

يا أَيُّها الإِنسانُ عَمَّ تَبحَثُ

She spoke ignorantly, not knowing what would happen

"Oh human, what are you looking for?"

فَاِلتَفَتَ الصَيادُ صَوبَ الصَوتِ

وَنَحوَهُ سَدَّدَ سَهمَ المَوتِ

So the hunter turned towards the voice

And aimed at her the arrow of death

فَسَقَطَت مِن عَرشِها المَكينِ

وَوَقَعَت في قَبضَةِ السِكّينِ

She fell from her sturdy nest

And landed in the grip of the knife

تَقولُ قَولَ عارِفٍ مُحَقِّق

مَلَكتُ نَفسي لَو مَلَكتُ مَنطِقي

She says with the wisdom of one certain and realized:

"I would have possessed myself if I had possessed my tongue."