تقول   نخلة  روض  أينعت  رُطبا

تقول نخلة روض أينعت رُطبا

لغصن  وردٍ  لماذا  لم نصر حطبا

لغصن وردٍ لماذا لم نصر حطبا

A garden palm that has borne fresh, ripe dates says

The palm tree said: You have borne ripe dates

To a rose branch: “Why have we not become firewood?

Why have I not been cut down into firewood?

لم   ينتفع  بك  ذو  جوع  فتطعمه

لم ينتفع بك ذو جوع فتطعمه

ولا   استظلّ  فتى  أو  تاجر  كسبا

ولا استظلّ فتى أو تاجر كسبا

No hungry person has benefited from you and been fed by you,

None who was hungry benefited from you when you fed them

Nor has a youth found shade, or a merchant made a profit.”

Nor did any lad or merchant rest in your shade and profit

فاستشعر  الورد  من  تأنبيه خجلاً

فاستشعر الورد من تأنبيه خجلاً

وخاطب النخلَ يبدي الويل والعجبا

وخاطب النخلَ يبدي الويل والعجبا

So the rose felt ashamed at its rebuke,

Hearing this reproach, the rose bush felt ashamed

And addressed the palms, voicing woe and astonishment,

And spoke to the palm tree to express its woe and wonder:

وقال  إن  كنت  دوحاً يثمر الرُطبا

وقال إن كنت دوحاً يثمر الرُطبا

فإنما   أنا   غصن   أثمر   الطربا

فإنما أنا غصن أثمر الطربا

And said, “If you are a spreading tree that bears fresh dates,

If you are a tree that bears ripe dates

Then I am but a branch that bears delight.”

Then I am a branch that bears delight