1. In the dark thicket of al-Tirim,
A lean fox startled me with its barking.
١. في مُكْفَهِرِّ الطِرْيَمِ الشَرَنْبَثِ
أَقْعَثَنِي مِنْهُ بِسَيْبٍ مُقْعَثِ
2. It was neither well-fed nor plump,
But praised you more than a faithful brother,
٢. لَيْس بِمَنْزُورٍ وَلا بِرَيِّثِ
دُونَكَ مَدْحاً مِنْ أَخٍ مُلَيَّثِ
3. Who turned away from you when fortunes changed,
No good in the love of a fickle man.
٣. عَنْكَ بِما أَوْلَيْتَ فِي تَأَثُّثِ
لا خَيْرَ في وُدٍّ امْرِئٍ مُلَثْلِثِ