قالوا تَشَوَّكَ خدَّاهُ وشاربُهُ

قالوا تَشَوَّكَ خدَّاهُ وشاربُهُ

فقلتُ لا تُنْكِروا ما ليسَ بالعَجَبِ

فقلتُ لا تُنْكِروا ما ليسَ بالعَجَبِ

They said: His cheeks and mustache have grown thorny.

They said his cheeks and lips are thorny

So I said: Do not disapprove of what is no wonder.

I said, do not deny what is not strange

الشَّوكُ في شجراتِ الوردِ مُحْتَمَلٌ

الشَّوكُ في شجراتِ الوردِ مُحْتَمَلٌ

والشَّوكُ لا عَجَبٌ في مُجْتَنى الرُّطَبِ

والشَّوكُ لا عَجَبٌ في مُجْتَنى الرُّطَبِ

Thorns on rosebushes are tolerable;

Thorns on rose trees can be tolerated

And thorns are no wonder where ripe dates are gathered.

And thorns are no wonder amongst clusters of ripe dates