1. أَكثَرَ ما تَكتُبُهُ الأَقلامُ

    لَم تَسعَ في زَوالِهِ الأَيّامُ

    Most of what the pens write,

    the days have not sought to efface.

  2. يا لَكَ مِن خُرسٍ لَها كَلامُ

    مَوتى إِلَيها النَقضُ وَالإِبرامُ

    How wondrous—mute things that have speech!

    Dead things, entrusted with annulment and ratification;

  3. قَوامُ مَجدٍ مالَهُ قَوامُ

    نِظامُ مُلكٍ خانَهُ النِظامُ

    The mainstay of glory that has no mainstay;

    The order of a kingdom that order has betrayed.