The banners br Of a mournful melancholy br Wave br Throughout our land... br Nor can it be said br That here live a people br Who are building br Something new. br Here and there in the shadow br Of the banners br An effort can be seen, br A gigantic struggle br To triumph over death, br To give birth to something great, br To bring a jinni to light! br But (oh, irony of fate) br From all that labour br Only a mouse is born. br And thus this comedy br Bursts our vein of humour, br And we ourselves br Burst into rage. br Over the threshold of each house br That contains a sign of life br Mournful melancholy br Unfolds its banner.