زَيدٌ مائِتٌ كَمَدَ الحُبارى

زَيدٌ مائِتٌ كَمَدَ الحُبارى

إِذا ظَعِنَت لَطيفَةُ أَو مُلِمُّ

إِذا ظَعِنَت لَطيفَةُ أَو مُلِمُّ

Zayd is dying of grief, like the bustard,

Zayd will die of grief like the bustard,

when Latifah—or any visitor—strikes camp and leaves.

if Latifa departs—or come close to death.

تَبَنَّتهُ فَقالَ وَأَنتِ أُمّي

تَبَنَّتهُ فَقالَ وَأَنتِ أُمّي

فَأَنّى بَعدَها لَكَ زَيدُ أُمُّ

فَأَنّى بَعدَها لَكَ زَيدُ أُمُّ

She adopted him, and he said, “You are my mother.”

She adopted him, so he said, "And you are my mother."

How, after her, could Zayd have another mother?

So where, after her, will you find a mother, Zayd?

تَرُمُّ مَتاعَهُ وَتَزيدُ فيهِ

تَرُمُّ مَتاعَهُ وَتَزيدُ فيهِ

وَصاحِبُنا لِضَيعَتِها مِضَمُّ

وَصاحِبُنا لِضَيعَتِها مِضَمُّ

She mends his belongings and adds to them,

She mends his belongings and adds to them,

while our friend is eager to annex her estate.

and our companion eagerly amasses her estate.

سَتَلقى بَعدَها شَرّاً وَضُرّاً

سَتَلقى بَعدَها شَرّاً وَضُرّاً

وَتُقصى إِن قَرُبتَ فَلا تُضَمُّ

وَتُقصى إِن قَرُبتَ فَلا تُضَمُّ

After her, you will meet with evil and affliction;

You will face evil and harm after her,

you will be cast off if you come near, never taken in.

and be driven away if you draw near, not embraced.

وَتَلقاكَ المَلامَةُ كُلَّ وَجهٍ

وَتَلقاكَ المَلامَةُ كُلَّ وَجهٍ

سَلَكتَ وَيَنتَحي حالَيكَ ذَمُّ

سَلَكتَ وَيَنتَحي حالَيكَ ذَمُّ

Reproach will confront you, whichever course

And reproach will meet you in every direction

you take, and blame will assail you in either case.

you take, and blame will assail you on both sides.