نَبَرُّ عَلى تَباعُدِنا فَنُجفى

نَبَرُّ عَلى تَباعُدِنا فَنُجفى

وَنَكتُبُ في الزَمانِ فَلا نُجابُ

وَنَكتُبُ في الزَمانِ فَلا نُجابُ

We show kindness despite our separation, yet we are shunned.

We reproach though we're apart, yet no response

And we write as time goes by, yet receive no reply.

We write in time, but get no answer back

لَقَد عوتِبتُ في الحَسَنِ بنِ عَمرٍو

لَقَد عوتِبتُ في الحَسَنِ بنِ عَمرٍو

وَذاتِ الطَبلِ لَو نَفَعَ العِتابُ

وَذاتِ الطَبلِ لَو نَفَعَ العِتابُ

I have indeed been reproached over al-Hasan ibn Amr,

I was blamed for loving Hasan ibn 'Amr

And the woman of the drum—if only reproach were of use.

Though blaming the one with the drums is of no use

وَما تَدري القَوافي مَن سَعيدٌ

وَما تَدري القَوافي مَن سَعيدٌ

وَلا عَمرٌو فَتُقصِرُ أَو تُهابُ

وَلا عَمرٌو فَتُقصِرُ أَو تُهابُ

And the rhymes do not know who Sa'id is,

The rhymes know not who is happy or sad

Nor Amr, that they should hold back or be feared.

Nor does 'Amr, so he won't shorten or shy

لَحاكَ اللَهُ يا اِبنَ أَبي قُماشٍ

لَحاكَ اللَهُ يا اِبنَ أَبي قُماشٍ

وَلا أَسقى مَحَلَّتَكَ السَحابُ

وَلا أَسقى مَحَلَّتَكَ السَحابُ

May God curse you, son of Abu Qumash,

May God grant you well, O son of Abi Qumash

And may the clouds never water your dwelling.

Though the clouds won't water your meadow

فَكائِن فيكَ مِن خُلُقٍ لَئيمٍ

فَكائِن فيكَ مِن خُلُقٍ لَئيمٍ

تَكَرَّمُ أَو تَعاطاهُ الكِلابُ

تَكَرَّمُ أَو تَعاطاهُ الكِلابُ

For how many a base trait you have

There is in you despicable manners

That dogs are too noble for, or have themselves practiced!

Whether you act nobly or dogs snap at you

بِحَسبِكَ أَنَّ عِندَكَ كُلَّ عَيبٍ

بِحَسبِكَ أَنَّ عِندَكَ كُلَّ عَيبٍ

عَلِمناهُ فَوابِكَ ما تُعابُ

عَلِمناهُ فَوابِكَ ما تُعابُ

It is enough that you possess every fault

It's enough that you have every vice

We have known—so alas for you, how you are reproached!

We know them, so stop your pretense of shame