ما بَينَ موسى وَلا فِرعَونَ تَفرِقَةٌ

عِندَ المَنونِ بِإِكبارٍ وَإِصغارِ

No distinction between Moses and Pharaoh

In the face of death, whether small or grand

كَأَنَّها ذاتُ قُرٍّ أَطعَمَت لَهَباً

ما ضَمَّهُ الحَطبُ مِن سِدرٍ وَمِن غارِ

As if it were a pitcher that fed a blaze

With whatever wood the kindling or cave had

أَو أُمُّ أَجرٍ جَرى قَتلٌ عَلى نَفَرٍ

حُرٍّ وَعَبدٍ فَجَرَّتهُم إِلى الغارِ

Or a mother ewe where slaughter befell a flock

Of freeman and slave whom it herded to the cave

تَرمي بِعُضوَينِ ذي نُطقٍ وَذي خُرسٍ

إِلى فَمٍ لِصُنوفِ الطَعمِ فَغّارِ

It throws two, one of speech and one muted

Into a mouth where all tastes seem bitter