لا تأَمَنَنَّ عَلى سرّي وَسِرّكُم

لا تأَمَنَنَّ عَلى سرّي وَسِرّكُم

غَيري وَغيرك أَوطيّ القَراطيسِ

غَيري وَغيرك أَوطيّ القَراطيسِ

Never entrust my secret and yours

Never entrust my secret and yours

Do not trust me with your secret, nor should I trust you with mine,

to anyone but me and you—or the folds of paper,

To anyone but me and you, or to folded sheets,

Lest others betray our confidential writings,

أَو طائر سَأَصليهِ وأَنعَتُهُ

أَو طائر سَأَصليهِ وأَنعَتُهُ

ما زالَ صاحِبَ تَنقير وَتَدسيسِ

ما زالَ صاحِبَ تَنقير وَتَدسيسِ

or a bird. I shall consign it to the fire—and I will describe it:

Or to a bird I shall roast and describe:

Or a bird I will shoot down and gut,

it has always been given to pecking and prying,

Ever given to pecking and intrigue,

Still given to gossiping and backstabbing.

سودٍ بَراثِنُهُ ميلٍ ذَوائِبُهُ

سودٍ بَراثِنُهُ ميلٍ ذَوائِبُهُ

صُفر حَمالِقُه في الحُسنِ مَغموس

صُفر حَمالِقُه في الحُسنِ مَغموس

its talons black, its crest-feathers slanting,

Its talons black, its crest-plumes slanting,

A black snake, winding is its movement,

its eye-sockets yellow, steeped in beauty.

Its eyelid-rims yellow, steeped in beauty.

Yellow are its large fangs though beautiful,

قَد كانَ هَمَّ سُليمانٌ ليَذبَحَهُ

قَد كانَ هَمَّ سُليمانٌ ليَذبَحَهُ

لَولا سَعايتَهُ في مُلكِ بلقيس

لَولا سَعايتَهُ في مُلكِ بلقيس

Solomon had indeed intended to slaughter it,

Solomon had indeed intended to slaughter it,

Solomon once wanted to slaughter it,

had it not informed him about the kingdom of Bilqis.

Were it not for its tale-bearing in Bilqis's kingdom.

Had it not helped him gain Bilqis’ kingdom.