1. Qais and Muhammad, two young men, ask me
To compose wondrous verses whose mysteries amaze the wisest minds.

2. My subtle poems, when recited, bewilder
Even the most astute in fathoming their meaning.

3. One cheek complained to another that fate
Dealt unfairly, neglecting its share of inheritance.

4. With nine hundred dirhams and sixty more
While the rest got a thousand, leaving it empty-handed.

5. The other cheek replied: "We six cheeks
Share the inheritance when our provider dies.

6. Three hundred dirhams and sixty more go to each,
With a thousand and fifty for me, not bad at all!"

7. A seventh complains to one like it that
She was stripped bare, wronged of her share.

8. "Our inheritance is seven hundred dirhams
And five thousand more. I get some change, yes indeed!"

9. The other said: "Do not complain, for we
Divided the inheritance to maintain family ties.

10. My share is one dirham out of eighty,
Plus nine thousand and a thousand. No harm done!"

11. An eighth said to her sister: "We have
Three hundred and twenty, my lucky day!"

12. "And four thousand more, but I only got
One dirham. How unjust, my dear!"

13. She retorted: "Stop arguing! Our shares
Were eighty thousand, graced by beauty and wealth.

14. I got five hundred and fifty dirhams
And ninety coins. Disputing did not help!"

15. A ninth said to her peer: "Surely we have
Nine hundred plus thirty, isn't it known?"

16. "And seventy thousand more makes eighty shares.
My portion is known, do not doubt."

17. She said: "Sixty dirhams is enough,
Our inheritance was seven hundred, sadness be gone!"

18. "Plus seventy five thousand, a fair share.
I got one portion, and that's no lie!"

19. The tenth heir said to her like:
"Out of two hundred and twenty thousand, by God!"

20. "To a million, plus ninety dirhams,
Seventy more, and sixty grand dirhams for me."

21. She replied: "Fifty thousand plus seven hundred
Thousand is ours, as allotted by fate."

22. "Seven million complete,
And six hundred is my share, sadness proclaimed!"

23. There you have those complaining ladies,
I stopped lest the matter drive me mad.

24.
Had I added more heirs to the strand,

25. No heart, mind or thought could grasp its depths.
But this touches on what is near, transformed

26. By the orbit of wisdom the mind can grasp.
A youth told his uncle one day:

27. "I am your paternal nephew, so listen my noble prince!"
Another claimed his uncle through blood:

28. "I am at your service, at your service, uncle!"
Like one who told his father: "You are the brother

29. Of my brother, my son's uncle, the closest kin!"
And a woman told her grandson one day:

30. "Your brother, my brother, call him grandfather!"
The people answered in verse, and I love a lad

31. Who climbs the heights of glory and is called noble.
I conclude my words with a prayer as a Muslim