تَلومُ اِبنَةُ البِكرِيِّ حينَ أَؤوبُها

تَلومُ اِبنَةُ البِكرِيِّ حينَ أَؤوبُها

هَزيلاً وَبَعضُ الآئِبينَ سَمينُ

هَزيلاً وَبَعضُ الآئِبينَ سَمينُ

Al-Bakri’s daughter reproaches me whenever I return to her

Al-Bakri's daughter reproaches me when I return to her,

gaunt, while some who return are well-fed.

Lean, while some of those returning are fat.

وَقالَت لَحاكَ اللَهُ تَستَحسِنُ العَرا

وَقالَت لَحاكَ اللَهُ تَستَحسِنُ العَرا

عَن الدارِ إِنَّ النائِباتِ فُنونُ

عَن الدارِ إِنَّ النائِباتِ فُنونُ

She says, “May God rebuke you! Do you delight in the open wilds

And she said, "God curse you! You relish life in the open,

far from home? Misfortunes come in many forms,

Away from home; misfortunes come in many forms.

وَحَولَكَ إِخوانٌ كِرامٌ لَهُم غِنىً

وَحَولَكَ إِخوانٌ كِرامٌ لَهُم غِنىً

فَقُلتُ لِإِخواني الكِرامُ عُيونُ

فَقُلتُ لِإِخواني الكِرامُ عُيونُ

when around you are noble brothers, men of means?”

And around you are noble friends who have wealth."

I reply, “My noble brothers have eyes that watch.

So I said, "My noble friends have eyes.

ذَريني أَمُت قَبلَ اِحتِلالِ مَحَلَّةٍ

ذَريني أَمُت قَبلَ اِحتِلالِ مَحَلَّةٍ

لَها في وُجوهِ السائِلينَ غُضونُ

لَها في وُجوهِ السائِلينَ غُضونُ

Let me die before I come to occupy a station

Let me die before settling in a place

that furrows the faces of those who ask.

That leaves furrows on the faces of those who beg.

سَأَفدي بِمالي ماءَ وَجهِيَ إِنَّني

سَأَفدي بِمالي ماءَ وَجهِيَ إِنَّني

بِما فيهِ مِن ماءِ الحَياءِ ضَنينُ

بِما فيهِ مِن ماءِ الحَياءِ ضَنينُ

With my wealth I shall redeem the water of my face, for I

I will ransom the water of my face with my wealth, for I

jealously guard the water of modesty it contains.”

Jealously guard the water of modesty it holds."