لما رأيت جباه قوم في الثرى

وشفاهم تدلى إلى الأعتاب

When I saw the foreheads of a people in the dust

And their lips hanging on thresholds

وسمعت في طنطا ضراعة قائل

يا أيها البدوىّ فرّج ما بى

And heard in Tanta the supplication of one saying

"O Bedouin, relieve what is in me"

ولقيت في الحنفى من يسعى له

برسالة مفتوحة وكتاب

And I met in Hanafy one who was striving for him

With an open letter and a book

وشهدت في روما كنيسة بطرس

يبلى الشفاه بها حديد الباب

And witnessed in Rome the Church of St. Peter

Where lips wear out the iron of the gate

وعلمت أن من القسوس مؤلَّها

يرجى لمغفرة وحسن مآب

And I knew that among the priests are those

Who hope for forgiveness and goodly reward

أيقنت أن الخلق ضلوا ربهم

يا رب لا تأخذهم بعذاب

I was certain that people had lost their Lord

O Lord, take them not with torment