لنا مغَنٍّ صوتُهُ

لنا مغَنٍّ صوتُهُ

يكثُرُ في التِّيهِ أبازيرُهُ

يكثُرُ في التِّيهِ أبازيرُهُ

We have a singer whose voice

We have a singer whose voice

abounds in spices amid his conceit.

Often wanders lost in themes

طلبْتُ لَحناً فأبى طبعُهُ

طلبْتُ لَحناً فأبى طبعُهُ

ورُمتُ ضَرباً فأبى زيرُهُ

ورُمتُ ضَرباً فأبى زيرُهُ

I asked for a melody, but his nature refused;

I asked for a tune but his nature refused

and I sought a beat, but his treble string refused.

And I asked for a rhythm but his strings refused