1. أَلا بَكى الدُرُّ فَوقَ حالِيَةٍ

    حَلّى بِها العِقدُ شَرَّ ماحَلى

    Lo, the pearls wept upon a bejeweled woman;

    In her, the necklace adorned the worst it ever adorned.

  2. يَرى بِها ما يَمُرُّ مِن حَلَقٍ

    مُخَبَّأً تَحتَ مَنظَرِ الجُلى

    It sees in her the bitterness of ḥalaq,

    Hidden beneath a glittering appearance.

  3. قَد راقَ مَرأىً وَساءَ مُختَبَراً

    فَهَل تُرى أَثمَرَت بِها دِفلى

    It pleased the eye, but proved foul when tested;

    So has an oleander, do you think, borne fruit upon her?