وَقَفتُ لَدَيكُم لِلسَلامِ عَلَيكُمُ

وَقَفتُ لَدَيكُم لِلسَلامِ عَلَيكُمُ

وُقوفي عَلى أَطلالِ سَلمى وَعاتِكَه

وُقوفي عَلى أَطلالِ سَلمى وَعاتِكَه

I stood before you to say, “Peace be upon you,”

I stood before you to offer you greetings,

as I would pause at the ruins of Salmā and ʿĀtika.

As I would stand at the ruins of Salma and Atika.

يَروعُكَ تَسليمُ العُفاةِ كَأَنَّهُ

يَروعُكَ تَسليمُ العُفاةِ كَأَنَّهُ

بَوادِرُ طَعنٍ في الضُلوعِ مُواشِكَه

بَوادِرُ طَعنٍ في الضُلوعِ مُواشِكَه

A petitioner’s greeting strikes terror into you, as though it were

The beggars’ greeting terrifies you, as though it were

the first thrusts of an imminent stabbing in the ribs.

The first, swift thrusts into the ribs.

وَما فيكُمُ حُرٌّ يُكَرِّمُ ضَيفَهُ

وَما فيكُمُ حُرٌّ يُكَرِّمُ ضَيفَهُ

وَلَكِن إِذا ما شاءَ أَكرَمَ ماسِكَه

وَلَكِن إِذا ما شاءَ أَكرَمَ ماسِكَه

There is not a freeborn man among you who honors his guest;

And none among you is a noble man who honors his guest;

yet, when he wishes, he honors the man who holds him.

Yet, when he wishes, he honors the one who holds him.

وَإِن كُنتُمُ ناساً وَما أَنتُمُ بِهِ

وَإِن كُنتُمُ ناساً وَما أَنتُمُ بِهِ

فَإِنَّ القُرودَ وَالكِلابَ مَلائِكَه

فَإِنَّ القُرودَ وَالكِلابَ مَلائِكَه

And if you are human beings—though you are nothing of the kind—

And if you are human beings—and you are not—

then monkeys and dogs are angels.

Then surely monkeys and dogs are angels.