لَنا جيرَةٌ سَدّوا المَجازَةَ بَينَنا

لَنا جيرَةٌ سَدّوا المَجازَةَ بَينَنا

فَإِن ذَكَّروكَ السَدَّ فالسَدُّ أَكيَسُ

فَإِن ذَكَّروكَ السَدَّ فالسَدُّ أَكيَسُ

We have neighbors who blocked the passage between us.

We have neighbors who blocked the passage between us

So if they remind you of the barrier, the barrier is the wiser choice.

So if they remind you of the blockage, act oblivious

وَمِن خَيرِ ما أَلصَقتَ بِالدارِ حائِطٌ

وَمِن خَيرِ ما أَلصَقتَ بِالدارِ حائِطٌ

تَزِلُّ بِهِ سُفعُ الخَطاطِيفِ أَملَسُ

تَزِلُّ بِهِ سُفعُ الخَطاطِيفِ أَملَسُ

And among the best things you have added to the house is a wall,

Of all that you can add to a home, a wall is best

so smooth that dusky swallows slip upon it.

Over which the blows of critics smoothly slide