مَرَّتshe went on عَلىupon عَزمِهاher resolve وَلَمand did not تَقِفstop
مَرَّت عَلى عَزمِها وَلَم تَقِف
مُبدِيَةًdisplaying لِلشَنانِof hatred وَالشَنَفِand aversion
مُبدِيَةً لِلشَنانِ وَالشَنَفِ
She went on as she had resolved, and did not stop,
She passed resolutely, neither hesitating nor wavering,
displaying hatred and aversion.
Alas! Her face does not turn to one who gazes,
أَيهاتَfar from it ماnot وَجهُهاher face بِمُلتَفِتٍturning back
أَيهاتَ ما وَجهُها بِمُلتَفِتٍ
فَإِسلُso forget her وَلاnor عِطفُهاher shoulder بِمُنعَطِفِturning
فَإِسلُ وَلا عِطفُها بِمُنعَطِفِ
Far from it—her face will not turn back;
Nor does her compassion extend to one who implores.
so forget her: neither will her shoulder turn.
O Abu Ali, you are most dear to me because of what
أَباO father of عَلِيٍّAli أَعزِزhow grievous عَلَيَّto me بِماwhat
أَبا عَلِيٍّ أَعزِز عَلَيَّ بِما
أَتَتهُshe did it ذاتُthe woman with الرِعاثِearrings النُطَفِpearl drops
أَتَتهُ ذاتُ الرِعاثِ النُطَفِ
Abu Ali, how grievous to me is what
The maiden with flowing tresses has done to you.
the wearer of pearl-drop earrings has done!
Why do you blame the singing girls? While you
ماwhat لِلغَوانيails the lovely women فَوارِكاًaverse to men شُمُساًunapproachable
ما لِلغَواني فَوارِكاً شُمُساً
وَأَنتَwhile you بَرٌّare kind بِالغانِياتِto lovely women حَفيattentive
وَأَنتَ بَرٌّ بِالغانِياتِ حَفي
Why are the lovely women so averse and unapproachable,
Are righteous towards the singers.
when you are kind and attentive to lovely women?
No fresh branch adorned with blossoms in the morning
وَماand what نَكَرنَthey disapproved of الغَداةَthis morning مِنin غُصُنٍa bough
وَما نَكَرنَ الغَداةَ مِن غُصُنٍ
يَحسُنُis lovely فيin الإِنثِناءِbending وَالقَصَفِand revelry
يَحسُنُ في الإِنثِناءِ وَالقَصَفِ
What did they find objectionable this morning in a bough
Was fairer in waving and bending than you.
so lovely in its bending and revelry?
Sweeter and more luscious in melody than Ma'bad's lute,
أَحلىsweeter وَأَشهىand more pleasing مِنthan مَعبِدٍMa'bad نَغَماًin melody
أَحلى وَأَشهى مِن مَعبِدٍ نَغَماً
وَإِبنُand Ibn سُرَيجٍSurayj وَنازِلِand the dweller in النَجَفِNajaf
وَإِبنُ سُرَيجٍ وَنازِلِ النَجَفِ
Sweeter and more pleasing in melody than Ma'bad,
And Ibn Surayj and the descending scales.
Ibn Surayj, and the dweller in Najaf.
You may say verses by which to seduce
وَقَدand indeed تَقولُyou recite الأَبياتِverses تُصبيyou captivate بِهاwith them الthe
وَقَد تَقولُ الأَبياتِ تُصبي بِها ال
غادَةَlovely maiden خَلفَbehind الأَبوابِthe doors وَالسُجُفِand curtains
غادَةَ خَلفَ الأَبوابِ وَالسُجُفِ
And you recite verses with which you captivate
A wanton behind the door or screen.
the lovely maiden behind doors and curtains.
And the message of love may be conveyed on your behalf
وَقَدand indeed تُؤَدّىis delivered عَنكَon your behalf الرِسالَةُthe message فيin الحُبlove (beginning)
وَقَد تُؤَدّى عَنكَ الرِسالَةُ في الحُب
بِcompletion of 'love' فَتَأتيso it arrives كَدُرَّةُlike a pearl الصَدَفِthe shell
بِ فَتَأتي كَدُرَّةُ الصَدَفِ
And your message of love is delivered,
So she comes to you like a pearl obtained with effort.
arriving like a pearl from its shell.
May God destroy her! How she broke her vow
قاتَلَهاmay He confound her اللَهُGod كَيفَhow ضَيَّعتِshe broke الthe
قاتَلَها اللَهُ كَيفَ ضَيَّعتِ ال
عَهدَpledge وَجاءَتand she brought بِاللَّيwith evasion وَالخُلُفِand broken promises
عَهدَ وَجاءَت بِاللَّي وَالخُلُفِ
God confound her! How she broke
And came at night, contrary to the promise.
the pledge, bringing evasion and broken promises!
You relied on her gifts but did not fear
رَكِنتَyou relied فيهاregarding her إِلىon الهَداياgifts وَلَمand did not
رَكِنتَ فيها إِلى الهَدايا وَلَم
تَحذَرbeware عَلَيهاfor her جَرائِرَill consequences of التُحَفِthe presents
تَحذَر عَلَيها جَرائِرَ التُحَفِ
You relied on gifts where she was concerned, and did not
The evils that could come from pleasure.
beware the harm those presents might bring her.
She saw the face of the one to whom she wrote,
وَقَدand indeed رَأَتshe saw وَجهَthe face of مَنthe one whom تُراسِلُهُyou correspond with
وَقَد رَأَت وَجهَ مَن تُراسِلُهُ
فَاِنحَرَفَتso she turned away عَنكَfrom you شَرَّthe worst مُنحَرَفِturning
فَاِنحَرَفَت عَنكَ شَرَّ مُنحَرَفِ
She had seen the face of the man you were messaging,
So she turned from you in the worst way.
and turned away from you in the worst of ways.
You should have known the secret in her obstinate breast
قَدindeed كانَit was حَقّاًa duty عَلَيكَupon you أَنto تَعرِفَknow الthe
قَد كانَ حَقّاً عَلَيكَ أَن تَعرِفَ ال
مَكنونَhidden part مِنof سِرِّthe secret of صَدرِهاher breast الكَلِفِlove-stricken
مَكنونَ مِن سِرِّ صَدرِها الكَلِفِ
You ought indeed to have known
With the wisdom and discernment you were given.
the hidden secret in her love-stricken breast,
Are you not a brilliant Indian sword in appearance
بِماthrough what تَعاطَيتَyou practiced فيin الغُيوبِunseen matters وَماand what
بِما تَعاطَيتَ في الغُيوبِ وَما
أوتيتَyou were given مِنof حِكمَةٍwisdom وَمِنand of لَطَفِsubtle insight
أوتيتَ مِن حِكمَةٍ وَمِن لَطَفِ
through your dealings with unseen things and the
But your thoughts are deficient and inadequate?
wisdom and subtle insight you were given.
You sought all knowledge and excelled
أَلَستَare you not بِالسِندَin the Sind- هِندِ-hind ذاpossessed of بَصَرٍinsight
أَلَستَ بِالسِندَ هِندِ ذا بَصَرٍ
إِلّاif you do not تَفُقsurpass حاسِبيهِits calculators تَنتَصِفِyou stand equal
إِلّا تَفُق حاسِبيهِ تَنتَصِفِ
Are you not versed in the Sindhind,
In preserving the sayings of the ancestors.
matching its calculators, if not surpassing them?
What Hipparchus concluded about the firmament
وَقَدand indeed بَحثتَyou investigated العُلومَthe sciences أَجمَعَall of them وَاِستَظand memorized (beginning)
وَقَد بَحثتَ العُلومَ أَجمَعَ وَاِستَظ
هَرتَcompletion of 'memorized' حِفظاًby heart مَقالَةَthe teachings of السَلَفِthe ancients
هَرتَ حِفظاً مَقالَةَ السَلَفِ
You have investigated all the sciences and memorized
And Ptolemy made clear or obscure to you.
the teachings of the ancients:
So how did you err, my brother, and not depend
ماwhat اِقتَصَّrecounted واليسُValens فيabout الفَضاءِthe heavens وَجاand Ja-
ما اِقتَصَّ واليسُ في الفَضاءِ وَجا
بانُ-ban وَماand what سَيَّراthe two circulated مِنَof النُتَفِfragments
بانُ وَما سَيَّرا مِنَ النُتَفِ
what Valens recounted about the heavens, and
On what you had transcribed in the scriptures?
Jaban, and the fragments those two circulated;
And how did the Quran point out to you
وَماand what حَكاهُhe related ذُروثُيوسُDorotheus وَبَطلَمand Ptolemy (beginning)
وَما حَكاهُ ذُروثُيوسُ وَبَطلَم
يوسُcompletion of 'Ptolemy' مِنof واضِحٍwhat is clear لَكُمto you وَخفيand obscure
يوسُ مِن واضِحٍ لَكُم وَخفي
and what Dorotheus and
What was implicit and what was explicit?
Ptolemy related, both plain to you and obscure.
Why did you not take omens from the celestial birds
فَكَيفَhow then أَخطَأتَyou erred أَيO أُخَيَّmy dear brother وَلَمand did not
فَكَيفَ أَخطَأتَ أَي أُخَيَّ وَلَم
تَركَنrely إِلىon ماwhat سَطَّرَتَyou wrote فيin الصُحُفِthe pages
تَركَن إِلى ما سَطَّرَتَ في الصُحُفِ
How, then, did you err, dear brother, and fail
Or deduce from the moon's halo or study the shoulder blades?
to rely on what you had written in your pages?
You took her along though parting was imminent
وَكَيفَand how مادَلَّكَdid not guide you القِرانُthe conjunction عَلىto
وَكَيفَ مادَلَّكَ القِرانُ عَلى
مافيهِwhat is in it مِنof ذاهِبٍwhat passes away وَمُؤتَنَفِand what begins anew
مافيهِ مِن ذاهِبٍ وَمُؤتَنَفِ
And how did the conjunction fail to show you
For one of you two riders or passengers.
what it held of things passing away and things yet to begin?
And you went though misfortunes foretold
هَلّاwhy did you not زَجَرتَread flight-omens from الطَيرَthe birds العُلىhigh-flying أَوor تَعَيyou divined (beginning)
هَلّا زَجَرتَ الطَيرَ العُلى أَو تَعَي
يَفتَcompletion of 'you divined' المَهاthe oryx أَوor نَظَرتَyou examined فيin الكَتِفِthe shoulder blade
يَفتَ المَها أَو نَظَرتَ في الكَتِفِ
Why did you not read the omens of high-flying birds, or
The state of the two travellers to differ.
divine by the oryx, or inspect a shoulder blade?
Did you not see the stars that you two
حَمَلتَهاyou carried her وَالفِراقُwhile separation مُحتَشِدٌwas gathering
حَمَلتَها وَالفِراقُ مُحتَشِدٌ
لِراكِبٍfor a rider مِنكُماof you two وَمُرتَدِفِand a pillion-rider
لِراكِبٍ مِنكُما وَمُرتَدِفِ
You carried her away while parting was gathering
Were in a fixed and divergent configuration?
for the rider and the pillion-rider among you.
Nor did you observe Mars envying
وَرُحتُماand you two set out وَالنُحوسُwhile the baleful stars تُنبِئُforetell عَنof
وَرُحتُما وَالنُحوسُ تُنبِئُ عَن
حالٍa condition مِنَamong الرائِحينَthe departing pair مُختَلِفِdifferent
حالٍ مِنَ الرائِحينَ مُختَلِفِ
You both set out while the baleful stars foretold
Venus, aspiring to her rank and prominence.
different fates for the two departing travelers.
Informing that a visiting woman would secretly
أَماdid not أَرَتكَshow you النُجومُthe stars أَنَّكُماthat you two
أَما أَرَتكَ النُجومُ أَنَّكُما
فيin حالَتَيthe two states of ثابِتٍone staying وَمُنصَرِفِand one departing
في حالَتَي ثابِتٍ وَمُنصَرِفِ
Did the stars not show you that you two
Console a spurned lover in his anguish.
were in the states of one who stays and one who leaves?
How did you overlook this when you were focused
وَماand did you not رَأَيتَsee المِرّيخَMars قَدalready حاسَدَenvied الthe
وَما رَأَيتَ المِرّيخَ قَد حاسَدَ ال
زُهرَةَVenus فيin الحَدِّthe astrological bound مِنهُof it وَالشَرَفِand the exaltation
زُهرَةَ في الحَدِّ مِنهُ وَالشَرَفِ
Did you not see Mars envying
On calendars and astronomy, constantly vigilant?
Venus in its astrological bound and exaltation?
Did you falter in this craft or grow weary of it
تُخبِرُyou foretell عَنfrom ذاكَthat أَنَّthat زائِرَةًa female visitor
تُخبِرُ عَن ذاكَ أَنَّ زائِرَةً
تَشفيcures مَزوراًthe man visited مِنof لاعِجِthe burning torment of الدَنَفِlove-sickness
تَشفي مَزوراً مِن لاعِجِ الدَنَفِ
You foretell from this that a visiting woman
Or cast it aside as delusion?
will cure the man she visits of burning love-sickness.
You never left the vestibule without her anklet chiming too.
مِنfrom أَينَwhere أَغفَلتَyou overlooked ذاthis وَأَنتَwhile you عَلىover الthe
مِن أَينَ أَغفَلتَ ذا وَأَنتَ عَلى ال
تَقويمِephemeris وَالزيجِand the astronomical tables جِدُّvery مُعتَكِفِdevoted
تَقويمِ وَالزيجِ جِدُّ مُعتَكِفِ
How did you overlook this, when you are
So where is the youth's oath and his promise?
so devoted to the ephemeris and astronomical tables?
And where is the old woman's advice "Do not fear"?
رَذُلتَyou grew inept فيin هَذِهِthis الصِناعَةِcraft أَمor
رَذُلتَ في هَذِهِ الصِناعَةِ أَم
أَكدَيتَyou failed أَمor رُمتَهاyou attempted it مَعَin الخَرَفِdotage
أَكدَيتَ أَم رُمتَها مَعَ الخَرَفِ
Have you grown inept at this craft, or
How the people betray their vows!
failed—or attempted it in your dotage?
How bold they are in taking false oaths!
لَمnot تَخطُyou stepped past بابَthe door of الدِهليزِthe vestibule مُنصَرِفاًleaving
لَم تَخطُ بابَ الدِهليزِ مُنصَرِفاً
إِلّاexcept that وَخَلخالُهاand her anklet مَعَwith الشُنُفِthe earrings
إِلّا وَخَلخالُها مَعَ الشُنُفِ
You had scarcely stepped beyond the vestibule door on leaving
You did not exercise judgment in drawing her close
before her anklet was with the earrings.
One who does not reciprocate affection and kindness.
فَأَينَwhere then حِلفُthe oath of الفَتىthe young man وَذِمَّتُهُand his pledged honor
فَأَينَ حِلفُ الفَتى وَذِمَّتُهُ
وَأَينَand where قَولُthe saying of العَجوزِthe old woman لاتَخَفِdo not fear
وَأَينَ قَولُ العَجوزِ لاتَخَفِ
Where, then, are the young man's oath and pledged honor?
Oh you who have wasted knowledge! How can it be possessed
And where is the old woman's saying, 'Have no fear'?
By the arrogant, vain and impudent among you?
ماhow أَخوَنَtreacherous الناسَpeople لِلعُهودِto their pledges وَماand how
ما أَخوَنَ الناسَ لِلعُهودِ وَما
أَشَدَّgreat إِقدامَهُمtheir boldness عَلىin الحَلفِswearing oaths
أَشَدَّ إِقدامَهُم عَلى الحَلفِ
How treacherous people are to their pledges, and how
You lead her astray to a king
boldly they rush into swearing oaths!
Whose build and stature appeal to her.
لَمnot تُصبِyou judged correctly الرَأيَthe judgment فيin إِزارَتِهاhaving her visit
لَم تُصبِ الرَأيَ في إِزارَتِها
مَنone who لايُجازيdoes not reciprocate بِالوُدِّwith affection وَاللَطَفِand kindness
مَن لايُجازي بِالوُدِّ وَاللَطَفِ
You judged poorly in sending her to visit
She inclines to the like of him when she looks
someone who does not reciprocate with affection and kindness.
From you to a carcass of carcasses.
ياضَيعَةَO waste of العِلمِknowledge كَيفَhow يُرزَقُهُis he granted it
ياضَيعَةَ العِلمِ كَيفَ يُرزَقُهُ
ذوone possessed of الخُرقِfoolishness مِنكُمamong you وَالعُجبِand vanity وَالصَلَفِand boastfulness
ذو الخُرقِ مِنكُم وَالعُجبِ وَالصَلَفِ
What a waste of knowledge! How is it bestowed upon
It pains me that she should be mistreated
the foolish among you, so vain and boastful?
And anguished by him in the choicest garden.
تَقودُهاyou lead her ضَلَّةًin folly إِلىto مَلِكٍa king
تَقودُها ضَلَّةً إِلى مَلِكٍ
يَروقُهاhe pleases her بِالقَوامِwith his stature وَالهَيَفِand slenderness
يَروقُها بِالقَوامِ وَالهَيَفِ
In folly you lead her to a king
They told her about your shaykh standing vigil
who delights her with his stature and slender waist.
In the bathhouse, so she lamented in sorrow,
تَصبوshe longs إِلىfor مِثلِهِhis like إِذاwhen نَظَرَتshe looks
تَصبو إِلى مِثلِهِ إِذا نَظَرَت
مِنكَin you إِلىat جيفَةٍa carcass مِنَamong الجِيَفِcarcasses
مِنكَ إِلى جيفَةٍ مِنَ الجِيَفِ
She longs for his like whenever she looks
And informed her that his nickname is
at you—a carcass among carcasses.
Abu Qumash, the fungus and truffle peddler,
يَسُؤنيit pains me أَنthat تُساءَyou are hurt فيهاthrough her وَأَنand that
يَسُؤني أَن تُساءَ فيها وَأَن
تُفجَعَyou are bereft مِنهاthrough her بِالرَوضَةِof the meadow الأُنُفِungrazed
تُفجَعَ مِنها بِالرَوضَةِ الأُنُفِ
It pains me that you should suffer through her, and
And talked to her about his cheap cloak and turban
be robbed, through her, of that meadow never grazed.
So she nearly died laughing.
قَدindeed خَبَّروهاthey told her قِيامَthe service of شَيخِكَyour old man فيin الحَمthe bathhouse (beginning)
قَد خَبَّروها قِيامَ شَيخِكَ في الحَم
مامِcompletion of 'bathhouse' فَاِستَعبَرَتso she wept مِنَfrom الأَسَفِsorrow
مامِ فَاِستَعبَرَت مِنَ الأَسَفِ
They told her of your old man's service in
You perceived that in her obvious disdain
the bathhouse, and she wept for sorrow.
And contempt for you and your gift.
وَأَعلَموهاand they informed her بِأَنَّthat كُنيَتَهُhis byname
وَأَعلَموها بِأَنَّ كُنيَتَهُ
أَبوfather of قُماشِsweepings الحُشوشِthe privies وَالكُنُفِand the latrines
أَبو قُماشِ الحُشوشِ وَالكُنُفِ
They informed her that his byname was
And her disinterest in gifts from you,
Abu Qumash—'Father of Privy and Latrine Sweepings.'
So she only accepts reluctantly and angrily.
وَحَدَّثوهاand they told her بِالدَستَبانِof the glove وَبِالصَنand of the stench (beginning)
وَحَدَّثوها بِالدَستَبانِ وَبِالصَن
نِcompletion of 'stench' فَكادَتso she nearly تُشفىcame to the brink عَلىof التَلَفِdeath
نِ فَكادَت تُشفى عَلى التَلَفِ
They told her of the glove and the
You know you are unkempt in appearance
stench, and she came close to perishing.
With prominent unruly hair.
وَقَدand indeed تَبَيَّنتَyou discerned ذاكَthat فيin الكَمَدِthe sorrow الthe
وَقَد تَبَيَّنتَ ذاكَ في الكَمَدِ ال
باديvisible عَلَيهاupon her وَالواكِفِand the streaming tears الذَرِفِcopiously shed
بادي عَلَيها وَالواكِفِ الذَرِفِ
You have seen this in the sorrow
And old age has made clear your demise
plain upon her, and her copiously flowing tears,
In a sagging cheek chewing its food with difficulty.
وَزُهدِهاand her reluctance فيtoward الدُنُوِّdrawing near مِنكَto you فَماso she does not
وَزُهدِها في الدُنُوِّ مِنكَ فَما
تُعطيكَgive to you إِلّاexcept بِالتَعسِwith misery وَالعُنُفِand violence
تُعطيكَ إِلّا بِالتَعسِ وَالعُنُفِ
and in her reluctance to approach you: she
A face that cuts the sight of all creation,
yields to you only amid misery and violence.
With a long nose precisely formed.
أَنتَyou كَماas قَدalready عَلِمتَyou know مُضطَرِبُill-formed in الthe
أَنتَ كَما قَد عَلِمتَ مُضطَرِبُ ال
هَيأَةِappearance وَالقَدُّand the build ظاهِرُplain in الجَلَفِcoarseness
هَيأَةِ وَالقَدُّ ظاهِرُ الجَلَفِ
You are, as you know, misshapen in
And spittle beneath double chin that has dripped
appearance, and your build is plainly coarse.
From a destructive, ruinous mouth.
وَالسِنُّand age قَدindeed بَيَّنَتhas shown فَناءَكَyour decay فيin
وَالسِنُّ قَد بَيَّنَت فَناءَكَ في
شِدقٍa mouth-corner عَلىover ماضِغَيكَyour two jaw muscles مُنخَسِفِsunken
شِدقٍ عَلى ماضِغَيكَ مُنخَسِفِ
Age has shown your decay in
As if there is a bite in his mouth that has
a mouth sunken over your jaw muscles.
Tied his tongue so it curves to the side.
وَجهٌa face لِعَينُaccursed القِسمَينِin both halves يَقطَعُهُdivides it
وَجهٌ لِعَينُ القِسمَينِ يَقطَعُهُ
أَنفٌa nose طَويلٌlong مُحَدَّدُsharpened at الطَرَفِthe tip
أَنفٌ طَويلٌ مُحَدَّدُ الطَرَفِ
A face accursed in both halves, divided by
Haughtiness and vulgarity have joined forces
a long nose with a pointed tip.
In his swaying, tilting gait.
وَرُتَّةٌand a stammer تَحتَbeneath غُنَّةٍa nasal twang قَذُرَتhas become foul
وَرُتَّةٌ تَحتَ غُنَّةٍ قَذُرَت
مِنfrom هالِكِthe ruined الراءِra (r) دامِرِthe obliterated الأَلِفِalif (a)
مِن هالِكِ الراءِ دامِرِ الأَلِفِ
And a stammer beneath a nasal twang, made foul
The darkness of his dye has spread over
by a ruined ra and an obliterated alif.
The bending of a goat made vile.
كَأَنَّas though فيin فيهِhis mouth لُقمَةًa morsel عَقَلَتbound
كَأَنَّ في فيهِ لُقمَةً عَقَلَت
لِسانَهُhis tongue فَاِلتَوىso it twisted عَلىinto جَنَفِcrookedness
لِسانَهُ فَاِلتَوى عَلى جَنَفِ
As though a morsel in his mouth had bound
Shaking his head makes him imagine
his tongue, so that it twisted askew.
He has risen from a sneeze with prestige.
تَناصَرَjoined forces النوكُfoolishness وَالرَكاكَةُand feebleness
تَناصَرَ النوكُ وَالرَكاكَةُ
فيin مُخَبَّلِa crippled man الإِنحِناءِstooping وَالحَنَفِand club-footedness
في مُخَبَّلِ الإِنحِناءِ وَالحَنَفِ
Foolishness and feebleness have joined forces
An appalling dimwittedness in the eyes
in a cripple, stooped and club-footed.
Left far behind even Abu Khalaf.
وَأَعرَضَتand spread ظُلمَةُthe darkness of الخِضابِdye عَلىover
وَأَعرَضَت ظُلمَةُ الخِضابِ عَلى
عُثنونِthe beard of تَيسٍa goat بِاللُؤمِwith baseness مُنعَقِفِbent
عُثنونِ تَيسٍ بِاللُؤمِ مُنعَقِفِ
The darkness of dye has spread across
You hope to attain the moon in this state!
a goat's beard, curling with baseness.
By my life, this is the utmost frivolity.
مُحَرِّكُshaking رَأسَهُhis head تَوَهَّمُهُyou imagine him
مُحَرِّكُ رَأسَهُ تَوَهَّمُهُ
قَدalready قامَhe rose مِنfrom عَطسَةٍa sneeze عَلىupon شَرَفِa height
قَد قامَ مِن عَطسَةٍ عَلى شَرَفِ
He shakes his head—you would imagine him
to have risen from a sneeze atop a hill.
سَماجَةٌugliness فيin العُيونِthe eyes فاحِشَةٌoutrageous
سَماجَةٌ في العُيونِ فاحِشَةٌ
خُلِفتَyou succeeded فيin قُبحِهاits hideousness أَباAbu خَلَفِKhalaf
خُلِفتَ في قُبحِها أَبا خَلَفِ
An ugliness outrageous to the eyes—
in its hideousness you have succeeded Abu Khalaf.
تَرومُyou seek وَصلَunion with المَهاoryx-eyed beauties وَأَنتَwhile you كَذاare like this
تَرومُ وَصلَ المَها وَأَنتَ كَذا
هَذاthis لَعَمريby my life ضَربٌa kind مِنَof السَرَفِexcess
هَذا لَعَمري ضَربٌ مِنَ السَرَفِ
You seek union with oryx-eyed beauties, looking like this?
By my life, this is a kind of excess.
Partial English translation: 94 of 100 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1