1. When an old man with wealth proposes to Zahra
And a destitute youth she prefers to embrace

2. And he stops singing of a girl when she's married
To an old brother whose time has passed and noose tightened

3. If you try riding their darkness's steeds
By God, those are evil mounts!

4. Not equal are the two cheeks—the price of this one
Is an old man, but for the other a fleshy fruit.

5. Avoid the way of singers—all of them
Are savage beasts, with the good among them so rare.