1. When will the debt be paid, O mother of nobility, for it has been lost
I have been longing to pay the creditor his dues
١. متى الدَّينُ يا أُمَّ العَلاءِ فقد أَنَى
أَنَاهُ مُؤَدَّىً للغَرِيمِ المُطالبِ
2. You have often procrastinated, either to wrong me
Or to be content with little, approaching what is due
٢. لقد طالما استَنسَأتِ إِمّا لِتَظلمِى
وإِمّا لتُرضِى بالقَليلِ المُقاربِ
3. The slanderers have claimed that I refused to pay it
Yet all they say is lies from a liar
٣. لقد زَعَم الواشونَ أَنِّى صَرَمتُهَا
وكلُّ الذى عدُّوا مَقالةُ كاذبِ
4. How can my soul find solace from it and love her
When separation prolongs and the anklets cease their rhythm
٤. وكيفَ عَزاءُ النَّفسِ عنها وحبُّهَا
يزيدُ إِذَا ما رثَّ وَصلُ الكَواعِبِ