حَمِدتُ إِلَهي أَنَّني لَم أَجِدكُما

مِنَ الجوعِ مَأوىً أَو مِنَ الخَوفِ مَهرَبا

I praised my God that I did not find you

A refuge from hunger or an escape from fear.

ضُبَيبانِ جَحلِيّانِ في آمِنِ الكُدى

إِذا ما أَحَسّا حارِشَ اللَيلِ ذَنَّبا

Two shy hyenas in a secure den

Who, when they sense the tail of night's mischief,

تَباعَدتُ حَتّى عَيَّرانِيَ بَعدَما

تَقَرَّبتُ حَتّى عَيَّراني التَقَرُّبا

I distanced myself until, after I drew near,

They blamed me for drawing near and distancing.