هذا فتى الزقزوق يرأف بالـ

هذا فتى الزقزوق يرأف بالـ

ـزرزور لا للوعظ والزجر

ـزرزور لا للوعظ والزجر

Behold al-Zuqzuq’s young man, taking pity on the—

This lad of al-Zaqzuq shows compassion for

—starling, not to admonish or rebuke.

al-Zurzur, not because of preaching or rebuke.

الله ألف وهو مقتدر

الله ألف وهو مقتدر

ما بين صيد البر والبحر

ما بين صيد البر والبحر

God has brought together—and He is all-powerful—

God, all-powerful as He is, has united

the quarry of the land and the quarry of the sea.

the quarry of land and sea.

أخوان من نسب المودة لا

أخوان من نسب المودة لا

ابتليا بصياد سوى الدهر

ابتليا بصياد سوى الدهر

Two brothers through the kinship of affection, never

Two brothers through affection's kinship—may they not

tried by any hunter other than Time.

be afflicted by any hunter other than Time.

نضو وعبل كالفنيق هما

نضو وعبل كالفنيق هما

عجب لذي عين وذي فكر

عجب لذي عين وذي فكر

One gaunt, the other stout as a pampered stallion-camel, they are

One gaunt, one stout as a breeding camel—the two are

a marvel to anyone with eyes and thought:

a wonder to anyone with eyes and anyone with thought,

من كون ذا في بحر نعمته

من كون ذا في بحر نعمته

وأخيه في قفص من الفقر

وأخيه في قفص من الفقر

that this one should be in a sea of his own plenty,

for this one is in a sea of his prosperity,

while his brother is in a cage of poverty.

while his brother is in a cage of poverty.