1. She said, "I heard that a free man got lost, in a town he arrived at, sick.
So he remained for days, a friend of the mosque; he didn't see any happiness among his neighbors.

2. Until when he was about to die of hunger, and he avoided settlement and rest,
His soul said to him, blaming him, "The young man failed at life unfortunately."

3. "Seek scraps to preserve your life, know that the wretch is he who died.
Go out and beg, the humiliation of asking, is better than death in any case."

4. He said to her, "Nay, death is sweeter, than asking for food, at any watering place."
"For Qais ibn Dharih asked, when he was old, having become needy,

5. So the people turned him away, and didn't give him, provision, and they fled from him when they saw him."
"My soul is content with humiliation, submitting, seeking food.

6. It deserves to die of hunger, so it didn't taste a meal for a week."
He died of hunger and the wailing woman eulogized him, and mentioned his generosity.

7. But I will seek and roam the roads, and it was dusk.
So he came to the door of a grocer, having apparent wealth and money.

8. He said to the people, "Good evening, he who asks for food commits no wrong.
A stranger guest who has no dinner, his intestines are filled with hunger."

9. The homeowner had food, and it was the night of fasting.
So his wife took a loaf, and rushed to feed the weak man.

10. The husband got angry at her and jumped, whipping her severely saying in anger,
"Your reward is divorce, for this deed, after this you are not my wife!"

11. The poor man rejected the home's door, and returned humiliated and broken.
Saying, "Why did you divorce the helpless, and the poor woman had to spend the night?"

12. And he spent the night in his mosque, determined to perish of hunger, and to end this life.
The neighbors gathered for prayer, and mentioned how to distribute the alms tax.

13. Each said, "I have an obligation to God, it's enough for me to prevent that transgression."
The Imam said, "This man most deserves his right, so stop making excuses."

14. So they gathered a thousand dinars from the alms tax, and the elder brought it to him secretly.
After misery and distress, he now had riches in fertility and prosperity,

15. Until when the year passed, his money doubled to great wealth.
He went early to the market, returning as a merchant,

16. And he wouldn't lose money among the traders.
He became one of the prominent merchants,

17. A leader among the great sellers.
A neighbor elder said to him, "Do you have among your family,

18. A young beautiful girl, like the full moon, radiant as a gazelle?"
"So that when she is gifted to him, and she displays her beauty to him,

19. and they sit one day for the meal, and they turn to the wine to enjoy together,
A poor man comes to the door asking. His wife says, it's not nice,

20. God will give to you, I don't have, for all who ask, except refusal."
The husband gets angry at her and jumps, beating and cursing her severely,

21. Handing the poor man what's atop the tray, all of it, from Iraq and Maraq.
And he says, "What's your excuse, O fool, for this terrible saying?"

22. She said to him, " I refused a beggar, that wasn't, if you consider, harmful.
And I had before you another husband, so he got angry

23. And the bond between us broke because of him."
He said to her, "I recognize the story, don't mention to me the vile despicable man."

24. She said, "He passed away while you're safe, and he's regretting his actions since."
So the husband prostrated saying, "Thanks! Ill will only breeds more ill will!"

25. "Do you recognize that beggar, when he came to you suffering and blind?"
I am that beggar wretch! And there's no despair of God's kindness!"

26. "Praise God who gave me his place, and endowed me with riches.
His home, his wedding, his money!" He feared when he heard her words.

27. So the cock came to me and said, "What do you complain of, and what do you desire to eat?"
I said to him, "I'm sickly and frail, thrown without feathers, captive of time."

28. He said, "Who did this to you tell me, and speak the truth if talking to me fully."
So when I clarified all my matter, he came attacking me severely with his beak,

29. Striking me, an angered beating, saying: misery comes upon the wretched!
His hand is paralyzed, who didn't leave you! Damn him, what made him destroy you?!

30. Killing to me, is part of what you deserve, to leave you transgressor is not deemed right!
And now I've come to my household, get out to torture and hell!"

31. He dragged me after beating me painfully, making me hear hurtful suffering.
So I got up not knowing where to go, confused in my purposes, doubtful.

32. Then I met a fox in my path so I shunned him to escape.
Behind me was the son of my protector, with ferocious attacking dogs!

33. So I said "who can save me and help me flee?" Then I prayed to God, dispeller of distresses,
He is gentle to His creation, answering despair with imminent relief.

34. So I fell into their hands while they pulled with all their might
And only my Lord's subtle kindness could overcome them

35. Until when I despaired of my life, and no means of salvation were built for me,
They disputed among themselves which would hunt me down,

36. And they all had come wanting me, so I slipped away while they busied themselves,
Their sworn allies had surrounded me closely stacked.

37. And I remained among them for a time until my wings grew back,
After they had molted. So that's the strangest of wonders,

38. And nothing in the eras is unbelievable!
So tell me the story of your affairs, and reveal your secrets!"

39. He said to me "I was set loose to graze, and I wouldn't stop looking."
Nightfall forced me into an owl's nest, so I spent the night an inauspicious owl guest.

40. They brought food and drink, feigning honor and admiration.
And they recounted what wonders they'd seen, and said "Tell me without sinning."

41. So when he slept, drunk, I killed his chicks - he didn't thank me!
And I didn't know he intended, or plot against me with his words.

42. I slept drunk and the old hen said "Do not fall asleep!" I said "Quiet, you ignorant one!"
She said "It's ugly that the home's owner sleep, while the awake guest didn't sleep!"

43. But drunkenness overwhelmed me so I slept, and he jumped,
Attacking my chicks who then faced destruction from him.

44. The peacock said: "Evil is what you have done, your story is an innovation!"
"This isn't customary hospitality, to betray after affection and food!"

45. "We don't know anyone like this among our kind, our minds lead us more than our beauty!"
Maybe he's someone who one day accompanied, the debauched who taught him immorality.

46. For accompanying evildoers is an infectious disease, like traits, from father and grandfather.
So describe him and trace his lineage if you know him, perhaps he may be recognized if you depict him."

47. So the owl said "He named himself Morning, and said his father's name is Pretty."
And he used to be called Father Qamash, entrusted with nests by all birds.

48. And my dwelling was Penguin Island, famous in the North African region.
So I was a blessing and money, such wealth the governor coveted.

49. For my enviers crept toward it, and with the poor money is a sin.
So they all strove to uproot it, until they accomplished its extraction.

50. My enviers were of two types, both actively seeking my demise at one time.
Some were spoiled by favors I gave ignorant of motives and doubts that occurred to me.

51. I preferred them over all birds, until when I singled them out favorably,
They transgressed and assumed it was their right, and sustenance duty-bound for them.

52. I have no right to obligate them, for it is provision for people taken forcibly.
Thus is he who patronizes fools and prefers lowly rogues.

53. Some I distanced due to assumption and excessive corruption in collecting.
For my nature disowned them, and recoiled from their temperament.

54. I never liked them naturally so I always deprived them of gifts.
Among them are honorable noble minds, with intellect and dreams.

55. My coldness angered them - for aloofness causes enmity indeed.
Especially when they saw my cordiality towards the indecent and boorish.

56. Nothing corrupts behavior like elevating the inferior and defective,
And denying virtue for passion, not qualities.

57. He who deprives a stranger and guards distant and near
Deserves condemnation and blame, his actions are like Abu Nama's.