سَأَلتُ زَماني بِمَن أَستَغيثُ

فَقالَ اِستَغِث بِعَميدِ الجُيوشِ

I asked my time, with whom can I seek refuge?

It said, seek refuge with the supreme commander.

فَنادَيتُ مالي بِهِ حُرمَةً

فَجاوَبَ حوشيتَ مَن ذا وَحوشي

I called out, what relation has he to me?

It replied, your savagery, who else has savagery?

رَجاؤُكَ إِيّاهُ يُدنيكَ مِنهُ

وَلَو كُنتَ بِالصينِ أَو بِالعَريشِ

Your hope in him will bring you closer to him,

Even if you were in China or Al-‘Arish.

نَبَت بي داري وَفَرَّ العَبي

دُ وَأَودَت ثِيابي وَبِعتُ فُروشي

My house was destroyed and my family scattered,

My clothes were torn and I sold my mattresses.

وَكُنتُ أُلَقَّبُ بِالبَبَغّاءِ

قَديماً فَقَد مَزَّقَ الدَهرُ ريشي

I used to be called the parrot,

Yet time has ripped my feathers.

وَكانَ غِذائي نَقِيُّ الأَرُزِّ

فَها أَنا مُقتَنِعٌ بِالحَشيشِ

My food used to be the finest rice,

Now I am content with grass.