لَمّا سَأَلتُ عَنِ الحَقيقَةِ قيلَ لي

الحَقُّ ما اِتَّفَقَ السَوادُ عَلَيهِ

When I asked about the nature of truth, I was told,

"The truth is whatever the masses agree upon."

فَعَجِبتُ كَيفَ ذَبَحتُ ثَورِيَ في الضُحى

وَالهِندُ ساجِدَةٌ هُناكَ لَدَيهِ

So I marveled: how did I slaughter my bull in the morning light,

While India is over there, prostrating before it?

نَرضى بِحُكمِ الأَكثَرِيَّةِ مِثلَما

يَرضى الوَليدُ الظُلمَ مِن أَبَوَيهِ

We acquiesce to the rule of the majority, just as

A child acquiesces to the tyranny of his parents,

إِمّا لِغُنمٍ يَرتَجيهِ مِنهُما

أَو خِفيَةً مِن أَن يُساءَ إِلَيهِ

Either for some favor he hopes to gain from them,

Or out of fear that they might do him harm.