لَو كُنتُ جاراً لِشَمسِ الملكِ ما خَطَرَت

مَساءَتي لِصُروفِ الدَهرِ في خَلَدِ

If I were a neighbor to the sun of the king, my faults

Would not have occurred to the turns of fate in eternity.

وَكانَ أَرفَعَ مِن كيوانَ مَنزِلَةً

قَدري وَأَمنَعَ مِن عِرّيسَةِ الأَسَدِ

And my destiny would have been higher than Kaiwan's station,

And my shelter safer than the lioness's den.

لكِنَّني بَينَ قَومٍ ما رَعوا ذِمَمي

فيهِم وَلا أَخَذوا مِن عَثرَةٍ بِيَدي

But I am among a people who did not keep their covenant with me,

Nor did they support me in my stumbling.

الحابِسينَ أَوانَ الخِصبِ كَلبَهُم

وَالمَوقِدي النارِ بَينَ السَجفِ وَالنَضَدِ

They who restrain the time of fertility like their dog,

And kindle the fire between the rug and the pillow.