شُعراءُ طَنجَةَ كلِّهم وَالمَغرِبِ

ذَهَبوا مِن الاغراب أَبعَدَ مَذهَبِ

The poets of Tangier, all of Morocco

Went far astray, to the most distant place

سألوا العسيرَ مِنَ الأَسير وَإِنَّهُ

بِسُؤالهم لأحَقُّ مِنهُم فاِعجَبِ

They asked the difficult from the captive, yet

Their questioning was more rightful than them; how strange!

لَولا الحَياءُ وَعِزَّةٌ لَخيمةٌ

طَيَّ الحَشا لحكاهمُ في المَطلِبِ

Were it not for shyness and honor that covered

I would tell them directly what I seek

قَد كانَ إِن سئل النَدى يُجزِل وَإِن

نادى الصَريحُ بِبابِهِ اِركَب يَركَبِ

Had he been asked, he would give generously, and if

His true voice called at his door “ride!” one would ride.