صِيْنَتْ بِمَرْفَعِهَا الدَّوَاةُ فَأَصْبَحَتْ

مِنْ شَرٍّ آفَاتِ التَّبَذُّلِ سَالِمَهْ

The pen raised its status, so it became

Safe from the evils of cheapening.

حَسُنَتْ عَلَيْهِ لِأَنَّهُ مِنْ جِنْسِهَا

وَغَدَتْ لَهُ إِذْ نَاسَبَتْهُ مُلاَئِمَهْ

It was kind to him because he was of its kind,

And it became compatible for him when it suited him.

فَكَأَنَّهَا مَلِكٌ عَلَى كُرْسِيَّهِ

أَوْ غَادَةٌ وَسْطَ الأَرِيْكَةِ نَائِمَهْ

So it was as if it were a king on his throne,

Or a sleeping beauty in the middle of a couch.

سَوْدَاءُ مَجَّتْ رِيْقَتَيْنِ فَرِيْقَةٌ

لِلْمُلْكِ بَانِيَةٌ وَأُخْرَى هَادِمَهْ

Black one brought together two groups, one

For the kingdom building and the other demolishing.

مَزَجَتْ دَمَاءَ العَائِذِيْنَ بِدَمْعِهَا

فَأُنُوفُهُمْ أَبَدَاً لَدَيْهَا رَاغِمَهْ

It mixed the blood of the refugees with its tears,

So their noses are always submissive to it.

زِنْجِيَّةٌ عَجْمَاءُ إِلاَّ أَنَّهَا

بِجَلِيْلِ تَدْبِيْرِ البَرِيَّةِ عَالِمَهْ

An illiterate black woman, except that she

Is knowledgeable of the great management of creation.