يَا نَدِيمَيَّ فِي سَرَنْدِيبَ كُفَّا

عَنْ مَلامِي فَلَيْسَ يُغْنِي الْمَلامُ

O my friend in Serendib, cease thy blame!

For censure will not heal my pain.

أَنَا فِي هَذِهِ الدِّيَارِ غَريبٌ

وَغَرِيبُ الدِّيَارِ لَيْسَ يُلامُ

I am a stranger in this land,

And strangers in a land are not to blame.

وَاذْكُرَا لِي فُسْطَاطَ مِصْرَ فَإِنِّي

بِهَوَاهَا مُتَيَّمٌ مُسْتَهَامُ

Remember Egypt's broad domain!

For her fair name consumes me with love's flame.