بالأمس كان خطيبَنا بالنادي

واليومَ مصرعُه حديث الوادي

Yesterday our orator was at the club,

And today his death is the talk of the valley.

أنحيطُ في النادي بمنبرهِ دجىً

والصبحُ نحملهُ على الأعوادِ

I used to surround him at the club with his pulpit in the darkness,

And this morning we carry him on the bier.

تصفيق إعجابٍ تحوّل فجأةً

لطماً بأيدٍ جئن بالأضدادِ

Applause of admiration suddenly turned

To slaps by hands that came with adversaries.

أمست بمرآهُ العيونُ قريرة

وغدت أسى بِنَواه رهن سهادِ

In the evening eyes were cheerful with his mirror,

And in the morning they were in mourning under pillows.

ما بين إزهارِ الحياة لقاسم

وذبولها إلا كقدْحِ زنادِ

Between the blossoming of life for Qasim

And its wilting was only like the flint of tinder.

لم تشكُ من ألمٍ ولم تك كبرةً

ما بال نارك حولت لرمادِ

You did not complain of pain and you were not an old woman,

So what made your fire turn to ashes?

هلا عدَتْكَ إلى سواكِ منيةٌ

ممن عثَوا في مصر بالإفسادِ

If only death had brought you back to your solitude

Away from those corrupting in Egypt.

كم هادم لبنائها متطلع

لفنائها متربص لجلادِ

How many destroyers of its construction are hoping

For its ruin, lurking for executioners.

ولكَم بها من راتع في لهوه

مسترسل في غيّه متمادِ

And how many revelers in its entertainment

Are unrestrained in their ignorance, persistent.

ولكم بهذا القطر باغى فتنة

هو رائح لشبوبها أو غادِ

And how many dissenters in this country

Are set on sedition or have departed.

ومخاتل يسعى بكل وسيلةٍ

للمال يقنصهُ من الأفرادِ

And how many swindlers strive by every means

To hunt money from individuals.

ومعمر سئم الحياة وملّه

أهلوه واستحيى من الأحفادِ

And the weary of life have tired of it

Though they were coddled and shy of descendants.

ما بالهم ضل الحِمامُ سبيلَهم

فتمكنوا في الأرض كالأوتادِ

Why did they lose their way

And take hold in the land like pegs?

لك حكمة يا ربِ تعلم سرها

دقتْ على النُّظار والنُّقادِ

You have wisdom, O Lord, the secret of which

Is obscure to observers and critics.