قَد أَسرَجوا بِكُمَيتٍ أَطلَقَت لُجُماً

وَلَم يَهِمّوا بِإِلجامٍ وَإِسراجِ

They rode off with a veil that set free passions,

And didn't care for reins or saddlebags,

يَستَصبِحونَ وَعَينُ الديكِ نائِمَةٌ

بِقَهوَةٍ مِثلِ عَينِ الديكِ مِئراجِ

They rise early while the rooster's eye still sleeps

With coffee like the rooster's wide-awake eye.

دَبَّت دَبيبَ نِمالٍ في أَنامِلِهِم

بِسائِرٍ في رُؤوسِ القَومِ دَرّاجِ

The creep of slippers crept into their fingers

With a caravan in the people's heads clattering.

تُفَرِّجُ الهَمَّ عَنهُمُ بَل تُزيدُهُمُ

نَكداً هَواجِسُ ما هَمَّت بِإِفراجِ

It relieves their worries but rather increases

Their sorrows—the fretting of one who hoped to be relieved.

لَم يَعلَموا أَنَّ أَقداراً سَتُنزِلُهُم

بِالعُنفِ مِن فَوقِ أَفدانٍ وَأَبراجِ

They don't know that the fates will bring them down

Violently from above terraces and towers.

وَما أَرى دَرَجاتِ الفَضلِ مُغنِيَةً

عَنِ الفَتى عادَ مَحثوثاً لِإِدراجِ

And I don't see the steps of glory helping

The lad who comes back cringing to be admitted.

أَمّا الحَياةُ فَلا أَرجو نَوافِلَها

لَكِنَّني لِإِلهي خائِفٌ راجي

As for life, I no longer hope for its extras,

But for my God, I'm afraid yet hopeful.

رَبِّ السِماكِ وَرَبِّ الشَمسِ طالِعَةً

وَكُلِّ أَزهَرَ في الظَلماءِ خَرّاجِ

Lord of the fish and Lord too of the rising

Sun and all that blooms in the dark fertilizing.