ذَهَبَ الناسُ فَاِستَقَلّوا وَصِرنا

خَلَفاً في أَراذِلِ النَسناسِ

The noble people have departed and journeyed on, and we remain

As successors among the vilest of half-men.

كُلَّما جِئتُ أَبتَغي النَيلَ مِنهُم

بَدَروني قَبلَ السُؤالِ بِياسِ

Whenever I come seeking a favor from them,

They forestall me with despair before I can even ask.

وَبَكَوا لي حَتّى تَمَنَّيتُ أَنّي

مُفلِتٌ عِندَ ذاكَ رَأساً بِراسِ

They weep their plight to me until I only wish

To escape that moment breaking even, head for head.

في أُناسٍ تَعُدُّهُم مِن عَديدٍ

فَإِذا فُتِّشوا فَلَيسوا بِناسِ

Among a people you number as part of the multitude,

But if scrutinized, they are not truly people.