سَمّاهُ أَحبابُهُ المِسكينَ قَد صَدَقوا

سَمّاهُ أَحبابُهُ المِسكينَ قَد صَدَقوا

مَن كانَ في مِثلِ حالي فَهوَ مِسكينُ

مَن كانَ في مِثلِ حالي فَهوَ مِسكينُ

His loved ones called him “the poor wretch”; they spoke truly.

His loved ones named him 'The Wretched,' and they spoke the truth,

Whoever is in a plight like mine is a poor wretch.

For whoever finds himself in a state like mine is wretched indeed.

أَنا الَّذي اِجتازَتِ الضَرّاءُ مُهجَتَهُ

أَنا الَّذي اِجتازَتِ الضَرّاءُ مُهجَتَهُ

بادي الشُحوبِ عَلَيَّ العَيشُ مَوزونُ

بادي الشُحوبِ عَلَيَّ العَيشُ مَوزونُ

I am he through whose heart adversity has passed.

I am he whose very lifeblood adversity has traversed,

I am visibly pallid; my sustenance is meted out to me.

Visibly pale and wan, my livelihood is strictly measured.

تَعفو الهَواجِرُ عَن وَجهي مَحاسِنَهُ

تَعفو الهَواجِرُ عَن وَجهي مَحاسِنَهُ

وَأَنتَ في غَمرَةِ اللَذّاتِ مَكنونُ

وَأَنتَ في غَمرَةِ اللَذّاتِ مَكنونُ

The midday heats erase the charms from my face,

The scorching midday heats have effaced the beauty of my face,

While you are sheltered in a flood of pleasures.

While you remain ensconced within a flood of pleasures.

حِيالَ بابِكَ في طِمرَينِ مُنتَبِذٌ

حِيالَ بابِكَ في طِمرَينِ مُنتَبِذٌ

مِنَ الغُبارِ كَحيلُ العَينِ مَدهونُ

مِنَ الغُبارِ كَحيلُ العَينِ مَدهونُ

Before your door I sit apart, in two tattered garments,

Before your door I sit cast aside, clad in two tattered rags,

My eye kohled with dust, my body anointed with it.

With dust serving as the kohl for my eyes and the ointment for my skin.