يا مالكاً لا يخيب زائره

يا مالكاً لا يخيب زائره

دعوة ضيف منقّح النظم

دعوة ضيف منقّح النظم

O master, whose visitor is never disappointed,

O host who never disappoints his guest

hear the plea of a guest who polishes verse.

A refined poet cries out to you

يبكي على رسمه ولا عجبٌ

يبكي على رسمه ولا عجبٌ

لشاعرٍ إن بكى على رسم

لشاعرٍ إن بكى على رسم

He weeps over his stipend—and no wonder

It's no wonder that he weeps

for a poet to weep over ruins.

For a poet's tears are for his art