لَعَمري وَما عُمري عَلَيَّ بِهَيِّنٍ

لَبِئسَ مُناخُ الضَيفُ وَالجارُ عامِرُ

By my life! My life has not been easy upon me,

How miserable is the abode of a guest and neighbor!

وَما عامِرٌ مِن دارِمٍ غَيرَ أَنَّها

قَشائِرُ أَعيا نَوؤُها وَهوَ ثائِرُ

Yet no abode of mine thrives except that it is

The dwellings of fated souls with raging hunger.

لَقَد كانَ فيكُم لَو مَنَعتُم قَليبَكُم

لِحاً وَرِقابٌ عَردَةٌ وَمَناخِرُ

Had you but withheld your hearts that were

Barren wastes, rigid necks, and flaring nostrils!