بيتٌ كصَدْرِي ورزقي

ضَيقا كَخَلْقِي وخُلْقِي

A house like my chest and livelihood

Narrow like my nature and morals

ملأتُه معْ هُزالٍ

معي وسُقْمي ودِقِّي

I filled it, sick and ill

With me, my sickness, and my poverty

فالْتَزَّ عضوٌ بعضوٍ

مني وعِرْقٌ بِعرْق

Each limb pressed against the next

My veins against veins

حتى لقد كاد فيه

كعبي يُصافح فَرْقي

Until my heels nearly

Touched the soles of my feet

فما يُطيق لساني

يدُور في وَسْط شِدْقي

My tongue cannot turn

In the middle of my mouth

ولو تَجشَّأتُ فيه

لَما تَجاورَ حلقي

And if I dared in it

My throat and mouth couldn’t meet

أمنتُ فيه من المو

ت وهْو يُدْمِن خَنْقي

I felt safe from death

While it choked my breath

لأنّ روحيَ لم تَلْ

قَ فُسْحةً للتَّرَقِّي

Because my soul hasn’t found

Space to flourish and grow