قُل للسريّ أَبي قَيسٍ أَتوعِدُنا

قُل للسريّ أَبي قَيسٍ أَتوعِدُنا

وَدارُنا اصبحت مِن دارِكُم صَدَدا

وَدارُنا اصبحت مِن دارِكُم صَدَدا

Say to the noble Abu Qays: “Do you threaten us,

Tell the secretive Abu Qais, do you threaten us

Say to the noble Abu Qays: Do you threaten us,

While our house now lies near yours?”

While our home has become separated from your homes

While our dwelling has become so close to yours?

أَبا الوَليد أمَا وَاللَهِ لَو عَمِلَت

أَبا الوَليد أمَا وَاللَهِ لَو عَمِلَت

فيكَ الشَمولُ لما حَرَّمتَها أَبَدا

فيكَ الشَمولُ لما حَرَّمتَها أَبَدا

O Abu al-Walid, indeed, by God, had it taken effect

Abu al-Walid, by God if you had done

O Abu al-Walid, by God, had it taken effect

In you—the wine—you would never have forbidden it,

What would make you comprehensive, you would have never forbidden it forever

Within you—the chilled wine—you would never have forbidden it,

وَلا نَسيتَ حُميّاها ولذَّتِها

وَلا نَسيتَ حُميّاها ولذَّتِها

وَلا عَدلتَ بِها مالاً وَلا وَلَدا

وَلا عَدلتَ بِها مالاً وَلا وَلَدا

Nor forgotten its intoxicating power and its pleasure,

Nor would you have forgotten its ardors and pleasures

Nor would you have forgotten its fiery rush and its delight,

Nor held wealth or offspring equal to it.

Nor equated it with money or children

Nor would you have exchanged it for wealth or children.

أَما رأيتَ أَخا الإِجمالِ مُنجدِلاً

أَما رأيتَ أَخا الإِجمالِ مُنجدِلاً

اذا تَعلّى عَلى كُرسِّيهِ سَجَدا

اذا تَعلّى عَلى كُرسِّيهِ سَجَدا

Have you not seen the man of gracious conduct lying sprawled,

Have you not seen the brother of Ijmal, unkempt

Have you not seen the master of elegance laid flat,

Who, when he climbed onto his chair, fell prostrate?

When he rises on his throne, bowing down

Who, when he ascends his chair, bows down in prostration?