رَأَيتُ غُلاماً مَليحَ الرُواء

تَلوحُ النَباهَةُ في مُقلَتِه

I saw a handsome boy, radiance shining in his eyelashes

I saw a boy of comely appearance,

I said, “Winter is imposing itself on us,

With keen intelligence gleaming in his eyes,

فَقُلتُ تَجَنّى عَلَينا الشِتاء

وَقَد نَفِدَ الفَحمُ مَعَ كَثرَتِه

and coal has run out even when plentiful.”

So I said, "Winter has tyrannized us,"

Is there a cure for this affliction?

"And the coal has run out, despite its abundance."

فَهَل مِن دَواءٍ لِهَذا البَلاء

لَدَيكَ أَجابَ اِقفُلوا المَدرَسه

You said, “Close the school.”

"Is there any remedy for this affliction"

I said, “A small child who loves open spaces

"That you know of?" He answered: "Close the schools."

فَقُلتُ صَغيرٌ يُحِبُّ الفَضاء

وَيَكرَهُ ما لَيسَ مِن فِطرَتِه

and hates what isn’t natural for him.”

I thought, "A child who loves the open air,"

And I saw a thief in the corner,

"And detests that which is contrary to his nature."

وَأَبصَرتُ لِصّاً عَلى الزاوِيَه

كَثيرَ التَلَفُّتِ نَحوَ القُصور

looking often toward the mansions,

Then I spotted a thief upon the corner,

I said “Our homes lack coal,

Glancing frequently towards the mansions.

فَقُلتُ مَنازِلُنا خالِيَه

مِنَ الفَحم وَالفَحمُ نار وَنور

and coal means fire and light.”

I said, "Our homes are devoid"

He said “Your icy nights

"Of coal, and coal is both fire and light."

فَقالَ لَياليكُم الداجِيَه

تَزول وَلَكِن بِهَدمِ السُجون

will pass but only by demolishing prisons.”

He replied, "Your pitch-black nights"

I said “A wretched sort, wretched indeed,

"Will pass, but only through the demolition of prisons."

فَقُلتُ شَقِيٌّ مِنَ الأَشقِياء

يُجاهِدُ مِن أَجلِ حُرِّيَتِه

struggling for the sake of his freedom.”

I thought, "A wretch among the wretched,"

And I returned to a wealthy man,

"Struggling for the sake of his liberty."

وَعُدتُ إِلى رَجُلٍ موسَرٍ

لَهُ شُهرَة وَلَهُ مَنزِلَه

renowned, owning his mansion,

Then I turned to a wealthy man,

I said “A secret remains secret

Possessing fame and high standing.

فَقُلتُ سَرِيُّ كَلامُ السَرِيِّ

إِذا وَقَعَ الناسُ في مُشكِلَه

when people face hardship,”

I said, "O Noble one—and the speech of the noble"

So what do you think?” He said “Make do

"Is vital when people fall into hardship,"

فَما هُوَ رَأيَكَ قالَ اِقصِر

مَعَ البَردِ لا تَنفَعُ الوَلوَلَه

with the cold, complaining is no use.”

"What is your view?" He said, "Desist,"

I realized the rich man’s boy

"For amidst the cold, wailing is of no use."

فَأَدرَكتُ أَنَّ فَتى الأَغنِياء

ضَنينٌ يَخافُ عَلى ثَروَتِه

was miserly, fearing for his wealth.

I realized that this scion of the wealthy

And I saw a very cautious man,

Is a miser who fears for his fortune.

وَأَبصَرتُ شَخصاً كَثيرَ الحَذَر

فَرُحتُ أَبُثُّ لَهُ لَوعَتي

so I went to unburden my distress to him

Then I spotted a figure of great caution,

He stared until I saw sparks

And I proceeded to pour out my anguish to him.

فَحَملَقَ حَتّى رَأَيتُ الشَرَر

يَتيرِ سِراعاً إِلى مُهجَتي

rushing angrily toward my brain,

He stared until I saw the sparks

and he shouted “This is war! The root of danger!

Flying swiftly towards my very soul,

وَصاحَ هِيَ الحَربُ أَصلُ الخَطَر

فَرُدّوا الحُسامَ إِلى غِمدِهِ

Return the swords to their sheaths!”

And he shouted, "It is War that is the root of peril!"

I said “An enemy, lacking in shame,

"So return the sword to its scabbard."

فَقُلتُ عَدُوٌّ قَليلُ الحَياء

يُحاذِرُ شَرّاً عَلى دَولَتِه

fearing harm upon his country.”

I thought, "A shameless adversary,"

He was once a candidate;

"Guarding against evil befalling his state."

هُيوز وَقَد كانَ قَبلاً مُرَشَّح

شَكَوتُ إِلَيهِ اِنقِلابَ الأُمور

I complained to him of the world’s upheaval.

"Hughes"—who had once been a candidate—

When I asked for an answer, he cleared his throat

To him I complained of how affairs had overturned.

وَلَمّا طَلَبَتُ الجَوابَ تَنحنَح

وَقالَ الحِلاقَةُ أَصلُ الشُرور

And said “Barbering is the root of evils.”

And when I sought an answer, he cleared his throat

I said “Surely the candidate jests.”

And declared, "Shaving is the root of all evils."

فَقُلتُ المُرَشَّحَ لا شَكَّ يَمزَح

وَما زِلتُ في حَيرَة وَاِضطِراب

And still I remain distressed and confused,

I said, "The candidate is surely jesting,"

like an airplane in a gust of wind,

And I remained in bewilderment and unease,

كَطَيّارَةٍ في مَهَبِّ الهَواءِ

إِلى أَن نَظَرتُ إِلى لِحيَتِه

until I looked at his beard.

Like a kite caught in the gusting wind,

Until I cast my gaze upon his beard.