أرى نفّة الأنف لو لم تكن

أرى نفّة الأنف لو لم تكن

أميرا على الكيف من غير مين

أميرا على الكيف من غير مين

I see that nasal snuff, had it not been

I see the breath of the nose as though it were not

a prince over pleasure—no lie—

A prince over the how without a where

لما كان مسكنها قصبة

لما كان مسكنها قصبة

وتلزمُها نوبةُ الإصبعين

وتلزمُها نوبةُ الإصبعين

would not have had a reed-tube citadel for its home,

Its abode would not have been a flute

nor been attended by the two fingers’ watch.

And the two fingers would not have tended it