وَلَهُ مَجنَحُ الأَصيلِ نَسيمٌ

لَيِّنُ العَطفِ هَيِّنُ الخَطرانِ

The softly-blowing dawn breeze has the winged elegance,

Gentle of manner, calming all fears,

أَرجٌ يَقتَدي بِهِ نَفَسُ المِس

كِ وَتَحكيهِ نَكهَةُ الزَعفَرانِ

A fragrance emulated by the very breath of musk

And echoed by the scent of saffron,

كَم غَدا مُدنِفاً وَراحَ حَسيراً

يَتَهادى في دِجلَةِ المَسرُقانِ

How often it drifted by melancholy at dusk

Gliding along the illuminated Euphrates,

فَرَأَينا لَهُ لَبوسَ شُجاعٍ

وَوَجَدنا بِهِ اِرتِعاشَ جَبانِ

We saw it wearing the garb of courage

Yet found in it the shiver of a coward.