وقائل لي وهوَ موفورُ الأسف

وقائل لي وهوَ موفورُ الأسف

أجهدك الفقر وعنّي وعسف

أجهدك الفقر وعنّي وعسف

And someone said to me, filled with sorrow:

And a speaker said to me, abundant in sorrow:

Poverty has exhausted you, tormented you, and oppressed you.

Poverty has exhausted you, and denied me, and was unjust,

فصرت تمشي مشية فيها حنف

فصرت تمشي مشية فيها حنف

قلّ غناء الشعر عنك والسرف

قلّ غناء الشعر عنك والسرف

So now you walk with your feet turned inward.

So you came to walk in a way that is bent.

Poetry and extravagance have done you little good.

Say little of singing poetry and extravagance,

فقلت والدمع من العين يكف

فقلت والدمع من العين يكف

أعلّني الضرّ وإعوازُ اللطف

أعلّني الضرّ وإعوازُ اللطف

So I said, as tears dripped from my eye:

So I said, and tears flowed from the eye:

Hardship and lack of kindness have made me ill,

Adversity has taught me, and scarcity of kindness,

وقلّة النوم إذا الليل اعتكف

وقلّة النوم إذا الليل اعتكف

ما الرجل تمشي إنّما يمشي العلف

ما الرجل تمشي إنّما يمشي العلف

And lack of sleep when night settles in.

And lack of sleep when the night comes.

It is not the foot that walks; it is the fodder that walks.

A man does not walk, rather it is sustenance that walks.