عَلَيَّ أَلِيَّةٌ عَتُقَت قَديماً

فَلَيسَ لَها وَإِن طُلِبَت مَرامُ

I am free, long ago unbound,

And roam where I please, my will is my own.

بِأَنَّ الغَدرَ قَد عَلِمَت مَعَدٌّ

عَلَيَّ وَجارَتي مِنّي حَرامُ

Betrayal I've learned is the wont of a friend,

On me or my neighbor no evil descend.

وَلَيسَ بِطارِقِ الجاراتِ مِنّي

ذُبابٌ لا يُنيمُ وَلا يَنامُ

I tap not at night on a neighbor's door,

Disturbing their peace with my clatter and roar.

وَلَستُ بِأَطلَسِ الثَوبَينِ يُصبي

حَليلَتَهُ إِذا هَجَعَ النِيامُ

No patchwork cloak have I, shabby and worn,

That shamelessly hangs tattered and torn.

يُقَرِّعُ لِلرِجالِ إِذا أَتَوهُ

وَلِلنِسوانِ إِن جِئنَ السَلامُ

I court not the women nor carouse with the men,

But peaceably live and leave strangers their ken.

وَلَستُ بِخابِئٍ أَبَداً طَعاماً

حِذارَ غَدٍ لِكُلِّ غَدٍ طَعامُ

I hoard not my food, for each new day anew,

Provides me my fill, as I trust it to do.