لا تَراني وَإِن تَطاوَلتَ عَمداً

لا تَراني وَإِن تَطاوَلتَ عَمداً

بَينَ صَفيهِم وَأَنتَ تَسيرُ

بَينَ صَفيهِم وَأَنتَ تَسيرُ

You cannot see me, even if you deliberately stretch up,

You cannot see me though you crane your neck

Between their two ranks as you walk.

As you walk between their ranks

كُلُّهُم فاضِلٌ عَلَيَّ بِمالٍ

كُلُّهُم فاضِلٌ عَلَيَّ بِمالٍ

وَلِساني يَزينُهُ التَحبيرُ

وَلِساني يَزينُهُ التَحبيرُ

They all surpass me in wealth,

They all outdo me in wealth

And eloquence adorns my tongue.

And my tongue is adorned with poetry

فَإِذا ضَمنا الحَديثِ وَبيتَ

فَإِذا ضَمنا الحَديثِ وَبيتَ

فَكَأَنّي عَلى الجَميعِ أَميرُ

فَكَأَنّي عَلى الجَميعِ أَميرُ

Then, when conversation and a verse bring us together,

So when we converse and recite verses

It is as though I am a prince over them all.

It's as if I'm the leader of them all

رُبَّ خَصمٍ أَرق مِن كُلِّ روح

رُبَّ خَصمٍ أَرق مِن كُلِّ روح

وَلِفَرطِ الذَكا يَكادُ يَطيرُ

وَلِفَرطِ الذَكا يَكادُ يَطيرُ

Many a rival is subtler than any spirit,

Many a rival's soul is gentler than any spirit

And from sheer intelligence he almost flies.

And is so witty he almost flies

فَإِذا رامَ غايَتي فَهوَ كابَ

فَإِذا رامَ غايَتي فَهوَ كابَ

وَعَلى البُعدِ كَوكَبُ مَبهور

وَعَلى البُعدِ كَوكَبُ مَبهور

Yet when he seeks my level, he stumbles,

So if he aims for my goal he falls short

And at a distance, he is an outshone star.

And from afar is like a fading star