رجعت الى الماضي البعيد بفكرتي

رجعت الى الماضي البعيد بفكرتي

وقلت لقرد الغاب يا لك من قرد

وقلت لقرد الغاب يا لك من قرد

In thought, I returned to the distant past.

I returned in my thoughts to the distant past,

And said to the forest ape, "What an ape you are!"

And said to the ape of the jungle: O ape!

تقلبت في الاصلاب دهرا وبعده

تقلبت في الاصلاب دهرا وبعده

نسلت ابنك الانسان نادرة الولد

نسلت ابنك الانسان نادرة الولد

You passed through loins for an age, and afterward

You turned in wombs for ages, then

You begot your son, man—a marvel among offspring.

Begot your son, man, that rare child.

فجئت به سبط القوام شمردلا

فجئت به سبط القوام شمردلا

فكان لعمري شر اعدائك اللد

فكان لعمري شر اعدائك اللد

So you brought him forth, straight of stature, tall and sturdy,

So you brought him upright and proud,

And, by my life, he became the worst of your implacable foes.

Yet to my life he was evil's worst enemy.

ولكنني باق لذكرك حافظا

ولكنني باق لذكرك حافظا

وموليك جماً من ثنائي ومن حمدي

وموليك جماً من ثنائي ومن حمدي

Yet I continue to preserve your memory,

But still I keep you in memory,

And lavish upon you much of my commendation and praise.

And am still your partisan in praise and eulogy.

فانك جد الناس في كل بقعة

فانك جد الناس في كل بقعة

من الارض حلوها فبوركت من جد

من الارض حلوها فبوركت من جد

For you are the forefather of people in every spot

For you are the ancestor of all humankind,

Of earth they have inhabited—blessed be you as a forefather!

In every spot of earth, pleasant or sterile.

ويجحد هذا الامر من هو لم يزل

ويجحد هذا الامر من هو لم يزل

اليك قريباً في الغباوة والحقد

اليك قريباً في الغباوة والحقد

And this fact is denied by whoever still remains

Only those still close to you in ignorance and spite

Close to you in stupidity and malice.

Deny this truth, out of envy and malice.

واما الذي في عقله ونبوغه

واما الذي في عقله ونبوغه

نأى عنك اشواطاً فليس بذي جحد

نأى عنك اشواطاً فليس بذي جحد

But as for the one who, in his intellect and brilliance,

As for him whose intellect and genius

Has outdistanced you by many lengths, he is not one to deny it.

Have taken him far from you, he is no denier.