1. I say, and today is an inarticulate day, its discourse gloomy
Darkening the brightness of morning, not from darkness

2. But from abundant, covered sorrows
Backgammon is like oleander in its arena

3. Or like the Magi brought together by what intoxicated them
As if they are goblets for drinking or

4. Armies raging, their weapons unsheathed
And for villains a raid and an attack

5. That confuses minds or makes them err
May God destroy them, neither their structures

6. Nor their weapons will raise me up
I send them back plain if I send them

7. As if their carvings have been erased
As if I read from them lines

8. From the Psalms, their inscriptions studied
As if it's shameful that you spend a night

9. Besieged by others or carved up
They obey frauds, their honesty exposed

10. And I was singled out from among them for betrayal
It answers them whenever the mute calls

11. And if they speak its deaf ear listens
Hesitating is their way, so my life is not

12. Safe from them the life I live
As if my soul among them is a hostage

13. That went away, and the claws of a predator hunt it
It tears its flesh, and sometimes

14. It almost escapes but its feathers are plucked
When Abu Al-Murajja took refuge among them

15. Our zeal inclined, its poles pulled down
As if vagrants launched a raid

16. Its steeds the ruinous rebels or arrow fletchings
As if those five were cut from it

17. Five terrifying serpents, their hissing
Its talons are its fangs, so long have they

18. Gashed my heart and hand with their biting
It will not be decked in the gold it wraps

19. From me and the coins it hoards
Or in the sheep they own the choice of which

20. Was good, and the lame fell to my lot
Or in the hens, which when they cackle

21. It's as if my heart doubted their cackling