أقسمت لا كشفت لمصر غمة

أقسمت لا كشفت لمصر غمة

ومديرها ابن غمامة المستوقد

ومديرها ابن غمامة المستوقد

I swore that no gloom would be lifted from Egypt

I swear I will not reveal Egypt's troubles,

while its governor is the son of the furnace's cloud.

And its governor, son of flaming clouds,

حمم لو اكتحل الحسان بلونه

حمم لو اكتحل الحسان بلونه

لم يفتقرن إلى اكتحال الإثمد

لم يفتقرن إلى اكتحال الإثمد

He is charcoal: were beautiful women to line their eyes with his hue,

If his beautiful eyes were lined with its hue,

they would have no need of antimony kohl.

They would have no need of kohl from perfidious ones.

وجد السبيل إلى بلوغ مراده

وجد السبيل إلى بلوغ مراده

لما أرادوا ضبطه بالأمجد

لما أرادوا ضبطه بالأمجد

He found the way to attain his desire

He found the way to attain what he desired

when they sought to restrain him with al-Amjad.

When they wanted to control him with the unyielding.

وكأنه معه زيادة خنصر

وكأنه معه زيادة خنصر

سيان إن وجدت وإن لم توجد

سيان إن وجدت وإن لم توجد

And beside him, he is like an extra little finger—

It is as if along with him is Ziyad the squinter;

it makes no difference whether it is there or not.

It makes no difference whether found or not found.