تُرابٌ غُيَّرَت مِنهُ سِماتٌ

تُرابٌ غُيَّرَت مِنهُ سِماتٌ

فَطَيرٌ في مَواكِنِها وَناسُ

فَطَيرٌ في مَواكِنِها وَناسُ

Dust, whose features have been altered—

Dust was transformed into features,

Thus birds in their nesting places, and people.

So birds in their places, and people,

هُوَ اللَيثُ اِسمُ مَأَواهُ عَرينٌ

هُوَ اللَيثُ اِسمُ مَأَواهُ عَرينٌ

أَو الظَبيُّ اِسمُ مَأواهُ كِناسُ

أَو الظَبيُّ اِسمُ مَأواهُ كِناسُ

It is the lion, whose dwelling is called a lair,

It is the lion whose dwelling is called a den,

Or the gazelle, whose dwelling is called a covert.

Or the deer whose dwelling is called a bed.

تَجانَسَتِ البَرايا في مَعانٍ

تَجانَسَتِ البَرايا في مَعانٍ

وَلَم يَجلِب مَوَدَّتَها الجِناسُ

وَلَم يَجلِب مَوَدَّتَها الجِناسُ

Creatures share certain qualities,

The wildernesses harmonized in meanings,

Yet likeness has not fostered affection among them.

And rhyming did not attract their affection.

إِذا أَنبَأتَ عَن غَرَضٍ بِلَفظٍ

إِذا أَنبَأتَ عَن غَرَضٍ بِلَفظٍ

فَقُل خَنساءُ شَطَّت أَو خُناسُ

فَقُل خَنساءُ شَطَّت أَو خُناسُ

When you convey an intended meaning with a word,

When you speak of a purpose with an utterance,

Then say, “Khansāʾ has gone far away,” or “Khunās.”

Then say Khansa' exceeded or Khu'nas.