أنا ابن جدي وقومي السادة العرب

وحرفتي ما حييت: الشعر والأدب

I am the heir of my forefathers, and my people are the noble Arabs,

And my craft, for as long as I live, is poetry and literature.

أنفقت وقتي في شعر وفي أدب

لا شغل عندي إلا: الشعر والأدب

I have spent my time immersed in poetry and in literature,

I have no occupation other than poetry and literature.

ولا غذاء به أحيا بغير طوى

منعم البال إلا: الشعر والأدب

I have no sustenance by which to live, free from hunger,

With a contented mind, except for poetry and literature.

أسالم الناس في عيشي فإن عمدوا

إلى خصامي فسيفي: الشعر والأدب

I live at peace with people, but should they seek

To quarrel with me, then my sword is poetry and literature.

وإن دعاني قومي أن أناصرهم

فعدتي في انتصاري: الشعر والأدب

And if my people call upon me to come to their aid,

Then my arsenal for victory is poetry and literature.

قل للملوك مقالا من أخي ثقة

دليله في الحياة: الشعر والأدب

Speak to the kings a word from a trusted brother,

Whose guide in life is poetry and literature:

لا ملك لا عز فيما تفخرون به

ما الملك والعز إلا: الشعر والأدب

There is no kingship nor glory in that of which you boast;

True kingship and glory are nothing but poetry and literature.

وقل لمن هام في مال له لبد

ما المال ويحك إلا: الشعر والأدب

And say to him who wanders lost in amassed wealth:

True wealth, woe unto you, is nothing but poetry and literature.

وقل لمن هام في حب الجمال لقد

أخطأت إن الجمال: الشعر والأدب

And say to him who wanders lost in the love of beauty: Indeed,

You have erred, for true beauty is poetry and literature.

وقل لمن هام في رشف المدام هوى

ما نشوة الخلد إلا: الشعر والأدب

And say to him who wanders lost in sipping wine with desire:

The ecstasy of eternity is nothing but poetry and literature.

ورب عاتبة لي في سبيلهما

تقول لي قد شجاك: الشعر والأدب

And many a woman has scolded me for pursuing their path,

Saying to me, "You have been consumed by poetry and literature."

ترجو بقائي بلا شعر ولا أدب

وما حياتي إلا: الشعر والأدب

She hopes for my survival without poetry and without literature,

Yet my life is nothing but poetry and literature.

فقلت عفي وكفي عن معاتبتي

ما نعمة العيش إلا: الشعر والأدب

So I said, "Desist and cease your scolding of me,"

"For the blessing of life is nothing but poetry and literature."

لقد فنيت غراما فيهما فهما

روحي وما أنا إلا: الشعر والأدب

I have been annihilated in love for them both, so they are

My very soul, and I am nothing but poetry and literature.